East Timor, officially known as the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a lower-middle-income country that officially became an independent country in 2002. Timor-Leste is one of the smallest countries in the world, consisting of the eastern half of the island of Timor (western half belongs to Indonesia), and the islands of Atauro and Jaco, and the exclave of Oecusse. With a population of about 1 million people, it is one of the smaller nations in the world and about 20% of the population lives in the capital, Dili.
A former Portuguese colony, Timor-Leste declared independence from Portugal in 1975 and was subsequently invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces. The following year, it was incorporated into Indonesia as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor) but over the next two decades there was violence in which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals died. In 1999, the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia in a popular referendum. Fighting again broke out until the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) brought an end to the violence. In 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.
The photos of Timor-Leste were kindly provided by Ms. Maria Wang, a final year student of the Masters of Public Administration in Development Practice at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Ms. Wang worked in Timor-Leste with The Earth Institute Advisory Project, exploring the factors contributing to, and opportunities for addressing, food insecurity and under-nutrition in the country.
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The western colonialism was a terrible thing particularly in places like East Timur. They converted this enclave of Indonesian native people to Catholicism. The natives and Portuguese who were left on the Island, felt they are different and wanted independence from Indonesia and started a war to gain it immediately after Indonesian unification. Since 2002 they have their independence but are economically unviable and dependent on western handout and Indonesian trades. Added to that they have very inept political leadership, exemplified by their president Ramos-Horta. The only way for them to get any hope of viability is building casinos and hotels on the coasts to cater to Australian and Japanese tourists, grow coffee, or cocoa on their highlands (none of that yet) to sell, and that's about it. Alternatively, they can become a modern day vassal country for Brazil or China to survive.
The Indonesian half of Timor is overwhelmingly Christian, as are neighbouring islands like Flores, which has a Portuguese name. In fact, one of the proponents of the Indonesian takeover of East Timor, General Benny Murdani, was a Catholic, while the first Prime Minister of an independent East Timor, Mari Alkatiri, was Muslim.
The 'civil war' was a coup encouraged by Indonesian military intelligence, which had been encouraging the right wing UDT to end its pro-independence coalition with the left wing Fretilin after attempts to use the pro-Jakarta Apodeti party as a vehicle for integration with Indonesia, in what was known as 'Operation Komodo'. The Indonesians told Australian Embassy officials this as early as May 1974.
East Timor has oil, although not as much as Brunei or Kuwait, so that is likely to be an important source of income. I think Brazilians would be flattered at the idea of East Timor being a vassal state, although it is not without precedent. In the 19th century, Portugal itself was governed from Brazil, not vice versa.
EastTimor doesn't have much oil, more natural gas. The off shore oil and gas which by the time it is all said and done, will end up earning them a few billions of dollars in royalty. That is if Australia keeps playing nice. The current royalties are not being used for economic development by the incredibly inept government of EastTimor.
WestTimor is also Christian (I know the history of Christian conversion of the natives in that area) but only half of them are Catholics without any of the the mid 20th century communist influence. The communists from Portugal who were exiled to Timor started making natives feel as if they were something different and then it persisted.
By the way Macau was a territory negotiated between China and Portugal, with no rebels fighting while EastTimor was essentially abandoned by Portugal in 1975.
It is incredible to assume that Indonesia shouldn't have taken sides in the communist take over of EastTimor in 1975. But it is a leap to call it they were the source of the civil war. There was also a 2006 mini civil who takes credit for that?
My Point: EastTimor is not ever going to be a self-sustaining country. The country is made of ideologues who govern it, and a whole lot of poor folks who eat up what they say.
I don't think you read my comment closely and your reply is emotional. Are you East Timorese?
"and we are not saved..."