Inequality, Corruption and Distribution of Income in Indonesia (Post Term Paper

Inequality, Corruption and Distribution of Income in Indonesia (Post Independence) - Term Paper Example Islam has also played a significant role in the Indonesia’s identity and economic issues. The name of Islam has too often been used to promote an agenda as in the case of Indonesian politics bringing with it death, destruction and deception in order to establish an Islamic state with Sharia as the state law. It is uncertain if these agendas were sincerely to establish an Islamic state, or it is a propaganda tool used by governments to influence its people to respond in a certain way, or it is a bit of both. The Bali and Jakarta bombings are examples of death, destruction and deception where only time will reveal the truth. When the Japanese surrendered in 1945, young radical Muslims pressured Sukarno to declare Indonesia’s Independence, uniting Indonesian against the Dutch attempts of re-establishing a colony in Indonesia. The Ulama declared Jihad against the Dutch. Muslim militias under the command of the Ulama with the Dutch-Japanese trained Indonesian armed forces drove out the Dutch. However, this unity of people did not last long. (Scott, 2008) Muslim militias in the West of Java broke ranks with the government after the government accepted a ceasefire agreement with the Dutch to withdraw its forces to central Java. Kartosuwiryo, a Muslim Politian, continued to lead the breakaway group against the Dutch and eventually establishing their own government and state with the sharia as law. This group was later known as Darul Islam or the Islamic state of Indonesia. Darul Islam remained a thorn for the Indonesian government with many other rebel movements from other provinces like Aceh and South Sulawesi joining Darul Islam. There were many other Muslim leaders who although supported an Islamic state, were in favor of the Indonesian Republic and condemned the violence of Darul Islam (Bruinessen 2002). Darul Islam was finally crushed and went underground in 1962 after the capture of its leaders (Bruinessen 2002). It was later to surface