This mid Sumatra province is one of the main sources of Indonesia's oil wealth and is also a major producer of palm oil.
But it is claimed that up to one-third of Riau's inhabitants live below the poverty line.
There is no open warfare, but there are feelings of injustice among Riau's 4.5 million inhabitants.
Calls for Riau's independence are based on an economic rather than a political grievance - the fact that most of the revenue from the province’s exports ends up in Jakarta.
Jakarta has gone some way towards meeting the demands of Riau by agreeing it can keep a larger share of the proceeds of the land, including 30% of oil profits.
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