Union Of Borneo

The Union of Borneo is an island nation in South East Asia, encompassing the entire island of the same name and some of the surrounding islands. The Union is currently in a state of Emergency, due to the current political situation in the region.

 Geography  Borneo is an island located in South East Asia, surrounded by the South China Sea to the North and North West, The Philippines to the North East, The Malay Peninsula to the West, Sulawesi Island to the East and the Island of Jawa to the South. Situated on the Equator within the Malay Archipelago, the island is the third largest in the World.

The island is largely mountainous land, having a number of mountain regions that form the island's interior. While the Kapas Mountain range form the 'backbone' of the Island, the highest peak is Mount Kinabalu in the North East of the Island along the Crocker Range. The Lowlands are mostly swampy, some which have been reclaimed for human habituation.

Borneo is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world, rivalling the Amazon rainforest. Because of this and the fact that over half of its landmass is still covered by virgin tropical rainforest, it is considered one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet, home to numerous species unique to the island itself. Due to this, numerous groups have made it a top priority to preserve this 'green lung' of an island. Sadly, as recent as the early 21st century, illegal logging and poaching continue to threaten the island's rich biodiversity.

 Demographics 

Current estimates of Borneo's population stand at 22 million, based on extrapolation of 2009 census information. The Island is home to a diverse group of peoples who are native to Borneo, mainly Dayaks [referred there as Ibans and Bidayuhs], 'Orang Ulus' [primarily called Penan] and the more recent immigrant races, mainly Malays and Chinese. Despite numerous ethnic groups, ethic relations on the Island in general are peaceful, although there been occasions of ethnic violence in incidents relating to economic and political strife.

In general, the population practice a large variety of faiths. While Christianity is prominent overall, large communities of Muslims are present in the cities on Borneo, while many in the interior still practice their traditional beliefs of animalistic religion. Still, these prove no barrier to fostering good friendships within the community, and most of the time any tensions between communities are due to more general social factors. Most of Borneo's people live in the cities on the island, but some choose to live within the interior regions, believing to be their ancestral home. Still, most will embrace technology and the trappings of the modern world, while anxious to preserve the ways of their elders that form their cultural identity.

 History 

''For the Early History of the Island itself, refer to Wikipedia:Borneo. This merely tells the principal historical factors leading to the genesis of the Union of Borneo.''