Indonesia has been ruled as a unitary state from its capital Jakarta since a brief and disastrous experiment with a federal structure in the 1940s.
Indonesia’s first two presidents, Sukarno and Suharto, ruled with iron fists and support from the armed forces.
Now strong rule from Jakarta has become a cause of friction as regions and provinces seek greater control over their own affairs, and a greater share of the country’s prosperity.
Since President Suharto fell in May 1998, reforms have led to a weakening of the previously all-powerful armed forces.
The military was put under the control of the country’s political leadership. The generals say this has reduced the army’s ability to quell regional unrest.
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