Kesultanan Okusi-Ambeno
CAPITAL
Pante-Makassar
AREA
778 square km
COAST
60km coastline facing north into the Savu Sea (Laut Sawa)
POPULATION
73,186 (2003 estimate)
ETHNIC COMPOSITION
Belo Timorese 79%; Black Portuguese 11%; Javanese 4%; Chinese 2%; Anglo 2% (2002 census)
CLIMATE
The climate is tropical, with little variation throughout the year. Temperature ranges from 25°C to 32°C, with high humidity. Average rainfall 3,750mm.
GEOGRAPHY
Territorially, the Sultanate of Okusi-Ambeno constitutes an enclave on the island of Timor, facing north out into the Savu Sea (Laut Sawa). The highest point is Mt Bisae Sunan (1560 metres) at the southern-most point of the Sultanate. The country is mainly equatorial forest with scattered cultivated land. There are some undeveloped deposits of manganese and copper.
FAUNA
Okusi-Ambeno has many animals which occur nowhere else in the world, including the rare and beautiful Garuda bird, the Sultanate's national symbol. (Birds are prominent on the postage stamps of Okusi-Ambeno.) Colonies of the fascinating flying Naga Unggu can still be found in the mountainous regions. The Naga Unggu is a close relative of the flightless Komodo Dragon, which is now extinct on the Okusi mainland.
HISTORY
The port town of Oekusi was established in the 15th century as a provisioning station for Portuguese privateers. Until recently Oekusi was the seat of power ("government"). All administrative functions are now carried out in the much more recently established town of Pante-Makassar, 20km north east of Oekusi.
(NB: Propinsi Indonesia was annexed in 1975 as a consequence of a petition from the Indonesian people. Propinsi Indonesia is a large hinterland which constitutes a Special Annexure of the Sultanate, and is not included in this country profile.)
In 1985, the Sultanate was admitted to the International Council of Independent States (ICIS), the "United Nations" of the Fifth World, and has since played a leading role in that forum.
CURRENCY
Okusi Ringgit (OA$) of 100 sen. The exchange rate is fixed by the Royal Treasury at OA$1.00 == US$1.23.
DEFENCE
Okusi-Ambeno security forces comprise a single battalion of the Palace Guard. The Sultanate maintains bilateral mutual-aid defence arrangements with Brunei, Sedang, Taiwan, the Vatican, and the Hutt River Province, and an arms supply and maintenance contract with Singapore.
Although the Sultanate by its nature cannot and does not recognise powers above or equal to itself, it does nevertheless observe the spirit and letter of several international conventions, including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Treaty, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and in addition has declared itself a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and Genetic-Engineering-Free Zone.
GOVERNMENT
[HM Sekrup Semesta Alam Sri Sultan Gare] Independent Sultanate. The Council of Ministers is appointed by and presided over by HM the Sultan. The seat of government is the Istana Iskandar (Alexander Palace).
Head of State: His Majesty Sekrup Semesta Alam Sri Sultan Gare, the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Okusi-Ambeno
Vice-Head of State: His Royal Highness Sultan Muda Yang Manis Aden
Foreign Minister: His Excellency Eddy Tansil
Pujangga Istana: Her Most Excellency May Wanhamid
LANGUAGE
Bahasa Okusi (official language of the Palace); English (associate official language); Tetum (language of the Commoners)
MEDIA
The Royal Okusi-Ambeno News Service (Berita Istana Iskandar) is the sole disseminator of information within the Sultanate. (The Internet newsgroup alt.culture.okusi-ambeno is often utilised by Berita Istana Iskandar to publish press releases, however it should be noted that the contents of this newsgroup do not necessarily reflect the views of the Istana.)
NATIONAL ANTHEM
"Wahdu, Kita Hebat Bwanget Dong"
RELIGION
Sufi Islam (76%); Catholic 9%; Buddhist 7%; Modernist Islam 3%; Atheist 2%; Postmodernist <1% (2002 census)
ECONOMY
Mainly subsistence fishing and dry-land rice agriculture; almost all foreign imports are prohibited, with the exception of those required by the Sultan or Sultan Muda. Per capita cash income is US$120/annum.
In fiscal year 2003 most foreign exchange was acquired through the Sultanate's Philatelic Bureau, and from exports of high quality hallucinogenic mushrooms manufactured in State-owned factories scattered throughout Okusi-Ambeno.
Income from royalties from the Sultanate's national dance, the Joget Makarina, made a significant contribution to the Royal Treasury in 2002-2003, but are expected to decline in 2004. Royalties from poetry exports are also in decline and the boom conditions of the early 90's are not expected to return until well into the new century.
Tourism continues to re-develop after the negative impact of the banning of the internal combustion engine in 1984. The Swiftair airship link between Pulau Sentosa (Singapore) and Pante-Makassar now departs three times a week. Introduction of four new Zeppelin NT in 2004 is expected to double annual tourist numbers. Two major tourist resorts are located south of the capital, at the moment catering mainly for North American tourists in search of Hot Okusi Nights. Okusi-Ambeno Passport-holders and citizens are afforded Special Privileges and Extras at both of these resorts.
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