Famous Indonesian

Wayang is an Indonesian/Malay word for theater. When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theater, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang. "Bayang", the Javanese word for shadow or imagination, also connotes "spirit." Performances of shadow puppet theater are accompanied by gamelan in Java, and by "gender wayang" in Bali.

UNESCO designated Wayang Kulit, a shadow puppet theater and the best known of the Indonesian wayang, as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003.

Batik (Javanese-Indonesian-Malay pronunciation: ['ba.te'], but often, in English, is [bætik] or [ba'ti'k]) is an Indonesian word and refers to a generic wax-resist dyeing technique used on textile. The word originates from Javanese word "amba", meaning ”to write” and the Javanese word for dot or point, "titik."

It is known to be more than a millennium old, probably in ancient Egypt or Sumeria. There are evidences that cloth decorated through some form of resist technique was in use in the early centuries AD. It is found in several countries later in West Africa such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali, or in Asia, such as India, Sri Lanka, Iran, and Thailand, and Malaysia, but the most popular are in Indonesia.

The art of Batik reach its highest achievement in technique, intricate design, and refined aesthetic in Java, Indonesia. The island of Java itself is famous and well known for its exquisite batik for centuries, particularly in places such as Yogyakarta, Solo, Cirebon, and Pekalongan.

Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Indonesia, located in central Java, approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta (7°45′8″S, 110°29′30″E).

It was built around 850 CE by either Rakai Pikatan, king of the second Mataram dynasty or Balitung Maha Sambu, during the Sanjaya dynasty. Not long after its construction, the temple was abandoned and began to deteriorate. Reconstruction of the compound began in 1918.

The main building was completed in around 1953, since it is next to impossible to find the original stonework, which has often been stolen and reused at remote construction sites. A temple will only be rebuilt if at least 75% of the original stones are available. Therefore only their foundation walls of most of the smaller shrines are visible and they will not be rebuilt.

Surabaya (formerly Soerabaja) is Indonesia's second-largest city, and the capital of the province of East Java.

It is located on the northern shore of eastern Java at the mouth of the Mas River and at the side of the Madura Strait.

The city is one of the busiest ports in the country. Its principal exports include sugar, tobacco and coffee. It has a large shipyard, and numerous specialized naval schools.

Jakarta (also Djakarta or DKI Jakarta), formerly known as Sunda Kelapa, Jayakarta and Batavia is the capital and largest city of Indonesia.

Located on the northwest coast of the island of Java, it has an area of 661.52 km² and a population of 8,792,000 (2004). Jakarta has been developed for more than 490 years and currently is the eleventh largest city and metropolitan area and ninth most densely populated city in the world with 44,283 people per sq mile. Its metropolitan area is called Jabotabek and contains more than 23 million people, and it is part of an even larger Jakarta-Bandung megalopolis.

Jakarta is served by the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Since 2004, Jakarta, under the governance of Sutiyoso, has developed its new transportation system, which is known as "TransJakarta" or "Busway" and in 2007, Jakarta will establish its newest transportation system, the Jakarta Monorail. Jakarta also is the location of the Jakarta Stock Exchange and the National Monument.

The Monumen Nasional (or Tugu Monas, the National Monument tower) is a 450 ft (137 m) tall tower in Central Jakarta, symbolizing the fight for Indonesia's Independence.

Its construction began in 1961 under Sukarno and was not finished until 1975 under Suharto. It is topped by a 14.5 tonnes flame-shaped bronze plated in 35 kg (1,125 troy ounces) of gold.

Visitors can take a lift up to a platform with a good view of Medan Merdeka Park, Istiqlal Mosque and the city, if it is not too foggy.

Inside the base of the monument is an exhibition on the country's Declaration of Independence and several dioramas showing the history of Indonesia.

Java (Indonesian, Javanese, and Sundanese: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia and the site of its capital city, Jakarta.

Once the centre of powerful Hindu kingdoms and the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies, Java now plays a dominant role in the economic and political life of Indonesia.

With a population of 124 million, it is the most populous island in the world; it is also one of the most densely populated regions on Earth.

Bali is an Indonesian island located at 8°25′23″S, 115°14′55″E, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east.

It is one of the country's 33 provinces with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island. The island is home to the vast majority of Indonesia's small Hindu minority.

It is also the largest tourist destination in the country and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking and music.

Borobudur is a ninth century Buddhist Mahayana monument in Central Java, Indonesia.

The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.

A main dome is located at the center of the top platform. It is surrounded by seventy-two perforated stupas, each containing one sitting Buddha statue.

Kho Ping Hoo or Asmaraman Sukowati Kho Ping Hoo (born in Sragen, August 17, 1926 - died in Solo, 22 July 1994) was an Indonesian author from Chinese descent.

He is very famous for his martial art stories with the background of China or Java. During his 30 years career, he had published at least 120 stories (according to Leo Suryadinata).

However, Forum magazine claimed at least Kho Ping Hoo had 400 stories with the background of China and 50 stories with the background of Java.

Yayuk Basuki (born November 30, 1970, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia) is a former professional tennis player from Indonesia.

She is the highest-ever ranked tennis player from Indonesia at #19 in the Women's Tennis Association.

Ruslan Abdulgani (November 24, 1914, Surabaya — June 29, 2005, Jakarta) his first name is also spelled Roeslan) was an Indonesian government official and diplomat known for his role as a leader during the Indonesian National Revolution in the late 1940s, and as a key minister and United Nations ambassador in the Sukarno government during the 1950s and 1960s.

Anggun Cipta Sasmi (born April 29, 1974, in Jakarta) is an Indonesian singer/songwriter. Her name means "Grace born out of a dream" in Indonesian.

Anggun is also the highest-selling Asian artist outside Asia and made a history for being the first Asian artist to break into international music scene.

She is best known in Europe, particularly in France and Italy, as well as in several parts of Asia.

Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (born June 25, 1936), more commonly known simply as Rudy Habibie or B J Habibie, was the third President of Indonesia, holding office from 1998 to 1999.

By May 1998, the increasing poverty caused by the Financial Crisis and political discontent had reached boiling point. On 13th May, the shooting of six students at Trisakti University in Jakarta, caused extreme anger which in turn caused widespread riots and lootings. There were now explicit calls for Suharto to step down as President of Indonesia. Suharto responded by saying that if he stepped down, the Vice President would become President and in a not too subtle jab to Habibie, said that he was not sure whether the Vice President could solve the problems facing the country .

Suharto (born June 8, 1921) is a former Indonesian military and political leader. He served as a military officer in the Indonesian National Revolution, but is better known as the long-reigning second President of Indonesia, holding the office from 1967 to 1998.

Suharto stood for reelection for the seventh time in March 1998, justifying it on the grounds of the necessity of his leadership during the crisis. As in past years, he was unopposed for reelection. This sparked protests and riots throughout the country, now termed the Indonesian Revolution of 1998. Dissension within the ranks of his own Golkar party and military finally weakened Suharto, and on May 21 he stood down from power. He was replaced by his deputy Jusuf Habibie.

Suzzanna (born 19 October 1942 in Bogor, Indonesia) is an Indonesian actress.

She started out as a child actress and later became one of the biggest stars of Indonesian horror cinema.

Affandi was born in Cirebon, West Java, in 1907, as the son of R. Koesoema, who was a surveyor at a local sugar factory. Affandi finished his upper secondary school in Jakarta, but he forsook his study for the desire to become an artist. Affandi taught himself how to paint since 1934.

In the 1950s, Affandi began to create expressionistic paintings. Carrying the First Grandchild (1953) was the piece that marked his newfound style: “squeezing the tube.” Affandi paints by directly squeezing the paint out of its tube. He came across this technique by accident, when he intended to draw a line one day. As he lost his patience when he sought for the missing pencil, he applied the paint directly from its tube. 

The resulting effect, as he found out, was that the painting object appeared more alive. He also felt more freedom to express his feelings when he used his own hands, instead of a painting brush. In certain respects, he has acknowledged similarities with Vincent van Gogh.

As a renowned artist, Affandi participated in various exhibitions abroad. Besides India, he has also displayed his works in the biennale in Brazil (1952), Venice (1954), and won an award therein), and Sao Paolo (1956). In 1957, he received a scholarship from the United States government to study the methods of arts education. He was appointed as Honorary Professor in Painting by Ohio State University in Columbus in the United States. In 1974, he received an honorary doctorate from University of Singapore, the Peace Award from the Dag Hammarskjoeld Foundation in 1977, and the title of Grand Maestro in Florence, Italy.

Raden Saleh Sjarif Bestaman (1807 - April 23, 1880) is one of the best known painters from Indonesia. Raden Saleh, that was born into the noble Javanese family in 1807, was a pioneer of modern Indonesian art.

Although he was the first Indonesian artist to depict in the West style, the fact that he expressed the identity and the inventiveness in his work (seditentang to the traditional approach that stressed spread-culture the form and the established style) showed the method for the artist's Indonesian candidate to express their idea of being personally freer.

Tuanku Imam Bonjol (also Muhammad Shahab) (1772 – November 6, 1864), was a hero in the Indonesian struggle against Dutch rule. He was born in the village of Tanjung Bunga in the Pasaman regency of West Sumatra. His father's name was Buya Nudin. He was immersed in Islamic studies as he grew up, studying first from his father and later under various other Muslim theologians.

After founding the state of Bonjol, Syarif became involved in the Adat/Paderi controversy as a Paderi leader. The Paderi movement, which has been compared to the Wahhabi school of Islam in Saudi Arabia, was an effort to return the Islam of the area to the purity of its roots by removing local distortions like gambling, cockfighting, the use of opium and strong drink, tobacco, and so forth. It also opposed the powerful role of women in the matrilineal Minangkabau culture. The Adat, or traditionalist, position was that local custom that pre-dated the arrival of Islam should also be respected and followed.

Feeling their leadership position threatened, the traditionalists appealed to the Dutch for help in their struggle against the Paderis. At first, the Dutch were not able to win militarily against the Paderis because their resources were stretched thin by the Diponegoro resistance in Java. In 1824, the Dutch signed the Masang Agreement ending hostilities with the state of Bonjol.

Subsequently, however, once the Diponegoro resistance was suppressed, the Dutch attacked the state of Pandai Sikat in a renewed effort to gain control of West Sumatra. Despite valiant fighting by the Indonesians (by this time the traditionalists had realized they didn't want to be ruled by the Dutch either and had joined forces with the Paderis in their resistance), the overwhelming power of the Dutch military eventually prevailed. Syarif was captured in 1832 but escaped after three months to continue the struggle from his tiny fortress in Bonjol.

After three years of siege, the Dutch finally managed to sack Bonjol on August 16, 1837. Through a negotiation ruse, the Dutch again captured Syarif and exiled him, first to Cianjur in West Java, then to Ambon, and later to Manado in Sulawesi. He died on November 6, 1864, at the age of 92 and is buried in Sulawesi. The site of his grave is marked by a Minangkabau (West Sumatran) house.

Prince Diponegoro (Pangeran Diponegoro) (born Yogyakarta 1785 - died Makassar 1855) was a Javanese prince who opposed the Dutch colonial rule. He played an important role in the Java War (1825-1830). In 1830, the Dutch exiled him to Manado.

Diponegoro was a prince in the Javanese court of Yogyakarta. In the early 19th century the Javanese nobles were deprived of their right to lease land, which right was taken over by the Dutch colonial authority in order to improve their finances. Infuriated by the loss of prestige, and also by not having been chosen for promotion, Diponegoro believed that he had been chosen by divine powers to lead a rebellion against the secular colonials and started a holy war against them. Dipenogoro was widely believed to be the Ratu Adil, the Just Ruler predicted in the Pralembang Joyoboyo.

The beginning of the war saw large losses on the side of the Dutch, due to their lack of coherent strategy and commitment in fighting Diponegoro's guerrilla warfare. Ambushes were set up, and food supplies were denied to the Dutch troops. Diponegoro also enjoyed popular support among the population of Central Java.

The Dutch finally committed themselves to controlling the spreading rebellion by increasing the number of troops and sending General De Kock to stop the insurgencies. De Kock developed a fortress wherein he established a series of heavily-fortified and well-defended soldiers to limit the movement of Diponegoro's troops. Then Diponegoro was invited to negotiate. He accepted but later it was known that it was only Dutch trick to abduct him. He was placed under arrest while meeting under the auspices of negotiation in 1830. The Dutch exiled him to Makassar.

Today Diponegoro is a National Hero in Indonesia, and an Army division is named after him.

Gesang Martohartono (born 1917) is a renowned Indonesian singer-songwriter from central Java, and composer of the song Bengawan Solo, a tune which has become famous throughout Indonesia, Japan and much of Asia, and which is almost synonymous with the kroncong style of Javanese music.

He is most commonly known simply as Gesang.

Ali Amrozi bin Haji Nurhasyim (also known as Amrozi) (born July 5, 1962) is an Indonesian terrorist who was convicted for his part in the 2002 Bali bombing.

He is a native of East Java and the fifth of 13 children. His two brothers Ali Ghufron, aka Mukhlas and Ali Imron were also both involved in the Bali bombing in October 2002.

Mukhlas is suspected of converting Amrozi to militantism when the two reunited in Malaysia in the late 1980s. Both his brothers are currently in police custody.

Imam Samudra aka Abdul Aziz aka Qudama (born January 14, 1970 in Serang, Banten) is an Indonesian terrorist who was convicted for his part in the 2002 Bali bombing.

On September 5, 2006 he was condemned to eight years in jail for sheltering Noordin Mohammed Top, the alleged mastermind of the plot.

DR. Hidayat Nur Wahid, MA., Lc. (born in Klaten, Central Java on April 8, 1960) was elected as the leader of Indonesia's Constitutional Assembly (MPR) on 6 October 2004.

He resigned as the leader of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) on 11 October 2004.

Tukul Arwana (also Tukul Riyanto) born October 16, 1963. He is one of the famous comedian from Indonesia. Tukul Riyanto (16 October 1963) is an Indonesian comedian who presents the Bukan Empat Mata chatshow on Trans 7.

Tukul was born in Semarang, Central Java. When he was young, he often appeared on stage during celebrations of Indonesia's Independence Day. He also worked as driver. A friend, Joko Dewo, persuaded him to move to Jakarta, and initially supported him financially. 

Tukul then married a Padangese woman named Susi Similikiti Weleh Weleh, with whom he had a daughter, Vita. Tukul began working on the radio, where he met other Indonesian comedians. The turning point in his career was when he starred with child star Joshua in a music video. He then moved to television and hosted programs for TPI and Indosiar. He is now best known for the chatshow Empat Mata.

At the beginning of November 2008, Empat Mata was banned by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) following a fourth breach of the commission's guidelines. The show subsequently resumed under the name Bukan Empat Mata, "bukan" being the Indonesian word for "not".

Jojon (also Djuhri Masdjan), is a veteran Indonesian comedian. He was born on June 5, 1947, and is a former member of Jayakarta group, along with Cahyoo and Uuk.

He can be easily recognized by his Adolf Hitler/Charlie Chaplin lookalike mustache. Currently, Jojon is a single comedian, and plays a significant supporting role on many TV shows such as SBY and Kerajaan Sahur.

Jojon is so famous that there is even an Indonesian folksong "Hujan Rintik-Rintik, Jojon Minta Uang", which usually accompanies a children's drawing game.

Elvy Sukaesih (born June 25, 1951) is one of the most popular singers in Java, Indonesia, and has been dubbed the Queen of Dangdut.

Sukaesih has a significant fanbase in other Asian countries such as Japan. She has been a prolific recording artist since the late 1960s.

Elvy Sukaesih's male counterpart is the King of Dangdut, Rhoma Irama.

Liem Swie King (born February 28, 1956) was an Indonesian badminton player in the late 1970s and 1980s who competed in singles and some doubles events. Along with Morten Frost Hansen (Denmark), Han Jian (China), and Prakash Padukone (India), he was one of the world's dominant players in that era.

Liem, whose given name "Swie King" means "a person of intellectual brilliance", was best known for his aggressive play and the ferocity of his smash. He won the All-England Men Singles Championships in 1978, 1979 and 1981. He was a member of the Thomas Cup winning Indonesian team in 1976, 1979 and 1984. He eventually retired from badminton in 1988, and makes a good living operating a health spa in Jakarta.

Liem was inducted into the International Badminton Federation Hall of Fame in 2002.

Anton Medan (born Tan Hok Liang on October 10, 1957) is a former robber and gambling tycoon who converted to Islam and became a preacher in 1992. Prior his conversion to Islam, he grew up amid the dark politics of Indonesia. It was during the Suharto's New Order rule when gangsters were used in politics, bussiness and government agencies.

In 1998, Anton Medan was put as a scapegoat being the orchestrator of the Jakarta Riots after which the allegation was then quietly dropped. The riot, which was initially a student demonstration to protest against the Indonesian president Suharto, turned into an anti-Chinese demonstration in the capital Jakarta.

Anton Medan is of Chinese descent, but he took the street joining the riot to prove himself that he was loyal to the people or himself became a target. In the political turmoil of 1998, it was also reported that Prabowo Subianto, Suharto's son-in-law and the commander of Kopassus, had recruited and manipulated Anton Medan to gain millitant supporters.

During the investigation of the 1998 riot, Anton Medan denied the accusation that he was actively in role behind the scene, although he admitted that he was in the middle of the mob. However, he refused to testify unless the National Human Rights Commission rehabilitated his name first.

Susi Susanti (also Lucia Francisca Susi Susanti), born in Tasikmalaya, West Java on February 11, 1971, was an Indonesian badminton player. Sometimes her name is also spelled Susy Susanti.

She won the Olympic Gold medal for woman's singles in the 1992 Olympic in Barcelona and the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. She is married to Alan Budikusuma, who also won a gold medal winner in 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Often considered the finest female badminton player Indonesia produced, Susanti dominated the women's singles event in the early 1990s, winning the All-England in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994, the World Grand Prix from 1990-1994, and the World Championships in 1993. She also led the Indonesian team to win the Uber Cup in 1994 and 1996.

She was running a badminton racket company with her husband called Alan Susy Technology (Astec) after her retirement.

Chris John (also Yohannes Christian John) (born September 14, 1979 in Jakarta, Indonesia) is the WBA featherweight boxing champion (2003-). His record is 38-0-1 (20 KOs).

John started boxing in his early childhood and was trained by his father Johan Tjahjadi (aka Thjia Foek Sem), a former amateur boxer. John is the third Indonesian to win a boxing world title, following Ellyas Pical and Nico Thomas. John turned professional in 1997 and is known as "Thin Man".

In 2005 John splitted with trainer Sutan Rambing then joined Harry's Gym in Perth, Australia, where he is currently trained and managed by Craig Christian.

Ellyas Pical (born 24 March 1960 in Saparua) was the first world boxing champion from Indonesia, and was three times IBF Super flyweight champion (1985 – 1989). In his childhood, Pical was a pearl diver, diving without equipment.

Pical's nickname "The Exocet" was given by the press referring to his left-hand punch. The name comes from the French-made missiles used to against the Royal Navy by the Argentine Air Force during the Falklands War, which happened in 1982 during Pical's era. He got his title with this left-hand punch, knocking out defending champion Judo Chun. Pical was only the second man from Indonesia to fight for a world title, following Thomas Americo (defeated by Saoul Mamby for the WBC Super lightweight title in Jakarta in 1981).

Today, Pical lives with his wife Rina Siahaya Pical, a dentist, and his sons Lorinly and Matthew. Pical was allegedly caught in the act of selling drugs to some undercover policemen in a discotheque in Jakarta during September 2005. This was shocking news to many Indonesians, as Pical had a reputation as a clean living and religious man. He was sentenced to seven months in prison, and released on 7 February 2006. Pical currently works on the staff of KONI - Indonesian Olympic Committee.

Amien Rais (born Surakarta, Central Java 26 April 1944) is a prominent Indonesian politician who led and inspired the reform movement that forced the resignation of the authoritarian ruler, President Suharto, in 1998.

Amien Rais was the leader of Muhammadiyah, one of the two biggest Muslim organizations in Indonesia, in 1995 - 2000. Amien Rais was the chairman of Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in 1999 - 2004.

Mohammad Hatta (August 12, 1902 - March 14, 1980) was born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). He was Indonesia's first vice president, after being the country's Prime Minister.

Known as "The Proclamator", he and a number of Indonesians, including the first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, fought for the independence of Indonesia from the Dutch East Indies.

Despite his effort to gain Indonesian independence, he had studied in the Netherlands since 1921 until 1932. Moreover, since his early education, he studied in Netherlands-based school in Indonesia.

Mohammad Hatta's name often remembered as Bung Hatta ('Bung' is an affectionate title used to address colleagues, popular in early 1900s) and is still used by Indonesians.

Munir Said Thalib (December 8, 1965 - September 7, 2004), affectionally known simply as 'Munir', was Indonesia's most famous Human Rights and anti-corruption activist.

The founder of the Kontras human rights organisation and laureate of the Right Livelihood Award, Munir was assassinated in 2004 while travelling to Utrecht University to pursue a Master's degree in international law and human rights.

Ebiet G. Ade (born April 21, 1955) is an Indonesian singer and songwriter close to the suppressed society. His musical touch has influenced Indonesian pop music. His lyrics are made by himself, he never collaborates with other musicians to arrange the lyrics, but he can collaborate with them to arrange his musical arrangement.

Born as Abdul Gafar Abdullah in Wonodadi, Banjarnegara, he is the youngest son of Aboe Ja'far. He had many desires: engineer, doctor, and painter. But as it turned out, eventually he became a famous singer, although he only wants to be called a poet.

In 1970s, Ebiet was close to Jogjakarta young artist society. It formed his musical style. Close to a prolific artist Emha Ainun Nadjib, he often sang his friend’s poems with his guitar. But, when entering recording studio, he did not sing any of Emha’s songs. Although Ebiet felt sorry to leave Yogyakarta, he concentrated to try his luck and natural talent in Jakarta. The recording of his songs were successful. He recorded in the Philipines to get the better recording. But he refused to record his songs in Japanese, when he had a chance to have a concert there.

Married with Yayuk Sugianto (Iis Sugianto’s old sister), in 1982, he has 4 sons: Abietyasakti Ksatria Kinasih, Adaprabu Hantip Trengginas, Byatuasa Pakarti Hinuwih, and Segara Banyu Bening. They lived in Ciganjur, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. In his house Ebiet raises about 20 birds.

Later, he recorded in Colombia Records, the United States. Ebiet also involved Adie MS and Jimmy Manoppo to assist his music.

Ebiet was chosen as the favorite singer of ABRI Radio Broadcasting (1989-1992), BASF Awards winner 1984 until 1988, and the best singer in 1997 Indonesian Musical Awards.

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir (also Abu Bakar Bashir) was born in Jombang, East Java in August 17, 1938. He was a student of Gontor Islamic boarding school in Ponorogo, graduating in 1959, before entering Al-Irsyad University, in Solo, Central Java and graduating in 1963.

After time as an activist for the Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (Indonesian: "Islamic Student Association") in Solo, he was elected secretary of Al-Irsyad Youth Organization, and then president of Indonesian Islamic Youth Movement (GPII) (1961), and Indonesian Student Da'wah Organization (LDMI).

In 1972, Bashir founded Al-Mukmin boarding school with friends Abdullah Sungkar, Yoyo Roswadi, Abdul Qohar H. Daeng Matase and Abdllah Baraja. Al-Mukmin is located in Ngruki, near Solo, Central Java. Initially, Al-Mukmin's activities were limited to religious discussion after only short Islamic forum after dhuhr (mid-day prayer). Following increasing interest, the founders expanded Al-Mukmin into madrasah (Islamic school) and then to pesantren (Islamic boarding school).

In 1983, during president of Indonesia Suharto's new order, Bashir and Sungkar were arrested allegedly for urging sharia, non-recognition of the Indonesian national ideology pancasila which in part promotes religious pluralism, and their school refusal to salute the Indonesian Flag which they considered to be shrik (Islamic defined polytheism).

Furthermore, they were accused of supporting separatist organizations. He appealed. He was also linked to the bomb attack on the Buddhist monument Borobudur in 1985 but fled to Malaysia. In Malaysia, and also Singapore he was involved in religious teaching. USA alleged that during this period he became involved with jamaah Islamiyah (not prooved) an alleged militant Islamist group.

Following the 1998 reformation and resignation of Suharto, Bashir returned to Indonesia (in 1999), joined the Indonesian Mujahedeen Council, and renewed his call for sharia.

Rhoma Irama (born December 11, 1946, in Tasikmalaya, West Java) is an Indonesian dangdut singer. During the height of his stardom in th 1970s, he became the self-proclaimed Raja Dangdut (King of Dangdut) with the group Soneta.

He was known as his stage name Oma Irama before he made a pilgrimage to Mecca and became a haji. He later took the name Rhoma Irama, which is an abbreviation of "Raden Haji Oma Irama" (Raden is an aristocracy title for Javanese and Sundanese cultures, but it is still unknown whether Rhoma Irama is a member of aristocrat class of Sundanese, which is known as his ethnic background).

Rhoma Irama is also well-known as an imam and is the chairman of the Muslim Forum (FUI), a nonpartisan religious organization. In 1992 he taught Cahyono, one of the Indonesian comedians according to his conversion to Islam. Once, Cahyono stated that Rhoma knew all of the Catholic principles as well as its mistakes.

Rhoma Irama was in the news in 2003 for his criticism of the suggestive dancing of fellow dangdut singer Inul Daratista. Recently, he was ineligible to receive the PhD award from the American University of Hawaii in February 2005 after being busted for plagiarizing his title.

In a comprehensive research about dangdut, a local journalist cited an allegation that Rhoma Irama may have stolen some of the tune of his songs from Indian movie theme songs. He also one of the artists on the only CD containing dangdut music in the United States, which was released on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings as part of its Indonesian music series.

Iwan Fals (born September 3, 1961 in Jakarta) is an Indonesian singer and songwriter. He has released several dozen albums of mostly solo guitar-based material in a style said to be influenced by Bob Dylan. He is considered a popular and charismatic singer in the country. He is known as a social observer and protest singer, although he has sung many songs about love and romance.

He has two children, Annisa Cikal Rambu Basae and Rayya Rambu Robbani. His eldest son, Galang Rambu Anarki, died in April 1997 of asthma, with speculation of a morphine overdose. Iwan Fals wrote an eponymously titled song for him following his death.