• 1670-1900– Indonesia ruled by the Netherlands as the Dutch East Indies.
• 1942– Japan invades Dutch East Indies.
• 1945– Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo, declares independence triggering armed conflict with Dutch forces.
• 1949– The Netherlands gives up the fight and recognizes Indonesian independence.
• 1950s– Maluku wages an unsuccessful war to secede from Indonesia.
• 1962– The Dutch agree to transfer West Papua to Indonesian control.
• 1965– A failed coup is attributed to Communist factions within Indonesia, resulting in purges where thousands are killed.
• 1967– General Suharto becomes president after being granted emergency powers in 1966.
• 1975– Portugal grants independence to East Timor.
• 1976– Indonesia invades East Timor and incorporates it as a province.
• 1997– Asian currency crisis creates economic havoc in Indonesia, the rupiah is devalued.
• 1998– Protests and rioting topple Suharto.
• 1999– Free elections are held throughout Indonesia; East Timor referendum produces a pro-independence vote, resulting in widespread government-organized violence on the island.
• 2001– Parliament dismisses President Wahid over corruption charges, Megawati Sukarnoputri is sworn in as a replacement.
• 2002– Constitution is reformed to allow for direct election of president and vice president; Bali attacks kill 202 people.
• 2004– Parliamentary elections produce a victory for Suharto’s Golkar Party; Former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Democratic Party is elected president; Tsunami kills more than 220,000 people.
• 2005– Government signs a peace deal with the Free Aceh movement.
• 2007– Police capture Zarkasih, the alleged head of Jemaah Islamiah (JI).
• 2008– Suharto dies.
• 2009– President Yudhoyono secures re-election in a resounding victory at the polls.
• 2010– Several JI training camps are raided, producing 14 high-profile arrests; Police kill Dulmatin, the final suspect in the Bali bombings; President Obama visits Indonesia, praising the country as a positive example of diversity and democracy.
• 2011- Two churches are burned down in central Java during Muslim anti-blasphemy protests.

Politics

Indonesia has a democratic, presidential system where the president and vice president serve five-year terms. The legislative branch, called the ‘Majelis Permusyawartan Rakyat (MPR) is a bicameral house that has the power to impeach the president. All this is overseen by a judiciary staffed with judges that have been appointed by the president.