Timor-leste: Challenges of Creating a Democratic State

Geography and History of Timor-leste

• Timor-leste is the newest state in Southeast Asia, comprising the eastern part of the island of Timor and the enclave Oecusse, surrounded by Indonesian West Timor on three sides.

Early European Contact and Colonization

• The first Europeans to arrive on the island of Timor were the Portuguese in the early 16th century.
• In the 1550s, Dominican friars and merchants from Portugal established trading posts.
• A governor was installed in Dili in the 1700s, claiming authority over the eastern half of the island.

Post-Portuguese Era and Political Mobilization

• The Carnation Revolution in Portugal in April 1974 triggered political mobilization in Timor-leste.
• Several political parties were established, including FRETILIN, UDT, and APODETI.

Conflict and Indonesian Occupation

• Conflict between political parties resulted in FRETILIN's victory, leading to Timor-leste's integration into Indonesia's 27th province.
• Indonesian occupation employed a "two-pronged strategy" that became brutal repression of the Timorese.
• Between 120,000 and 200,000 Timorese died from violence, hunger, and disease during the occupation.

National Resistance and United Nations Involvement

• The United Nations never recognized the annexation of Timor-leste.
• A popular referendum was held in 1999, and pro-Indonesian militias began "Operation Clean Sweep" before the results were announced.
• An International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) was established, and the UN Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET) took over the government.

Independence and Governance

• A constitutional assembly was elected in August 2001, passing a constitution in April 2002.
• Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao was elected president, and Timor-leste gained independence on May 20, 2002.
• An international police and security force remained in the country for a transitional period as part of the UNMISET mission.