Bangka–Belitung Islands

Bangka Belitung is an Indonesian - province. It consists of two islands Bangka Belitung and and was separated in 2000 from the province Sumatera Selatan.

The islands play an important role through its tin deposits. Since the 18th century, this raw material is promoted, the Indonesian government has remained a monopoly on the extraction and processing. Environmental organizations have criticized an enormous pollution and lack of social standards for workers.

The islands in 1812 by the Sultan of Palembang paid to the British, which they exchanged in 1814 against possessions in India with the Dutch. Since 1949, they are part of independent Indonesia.

Population

92 % of the population are Muslim, 6% are Christians. There are minorities of Hindus and Buddhists.