It bordered by ombai strait, the greater banda sea, and wetar strait. The indonesian invasion and occupation of east timor is one of the worst atrocities of this century. It has been made possible with military and diplomatic assistance of the united states. The geographic location of east timor and the populations included. The case concerning east timor and selfdetermination 2004. Cruel ironies and strange mirror effects mark australias performance in the leadup to indonesias invasion, in 197475, and east timor s independence vote in 1999. It occupies the eastern half of the island of timor, the small nearby islands of atauro and jaco, and the enclave of ambeno. Us approved 1975 indonesian invasion of east timor world. History of east timor from an anthropological perspective. Before world war ii, the western half of the island was. Timorleste celebrated its formal political independence on 20th may 2002.
Australia had a part in east timor s march to tragedy and a key role in its salvation. Annex a brief history of east timor east timor human development report 2002 anthropological investigations indicate that the first people to arrive in timor, approximately 40,000 to 20,000 years bc, were of the vedoaustraloide type, similar to the vedas of ceylon. It is placed 3th on the human development index, indicating a medium level of human development. Timor lorosae, is one of the worlds youngest countries. The democratic republic of timorleste, commonly known as east timor tetum.
Between 1945 and june 1974, the indonesian government, in compliance with international law, affirmed at the united nations and to the outside world that it had no territorial ambitions towards east timor. Department of defence australia, 2002, a short history of east timor. Conflict profile east timor indonesia 1975 1999 shortly after obtaining independence from portugal in 1974, east timor or timorleste was invaded by indonesians who occupied the country until 1999. Imperial japan occupied east timor during world war ii, but portugal resumed colonial authority after the japanese surrender. This research monograph is the first book to combine a historical analysis of the creation and development of the economy of east timor from the earliest times. Selfdetermination, statebuilding and the united nations article pdf available in international peacekeeping 91. This twovolume study explores the economy of east timor, of which very little has been. In 1945, the portuguese administration was restored in timor leste. The portuguese began to trade with timor by the early. The people of the first new nation of the century suffered. Country report of east timor by juliberto dos santos rita da. The economy of east timor is a lowincome economy as ranked by the world bank.
The country was later incorporated as a province of indonesia afterwards. Timor sea savu sea strait of wetar 125o 9o 8o 125o 126o 127o 8 9o 126o 124o 30 127o 124o 00 124o 30 00. Annex a brief history of east timor welcome to valdosta. Australia knew in advance of the 1975 indonesian invasion of east timor and stood by for three days while jakartas troops prepared for the. War, genocide, and resistance in east timor, 19751999 201 03263 ch 09 71503 10. Unmiset united nations mission of support in east timor. History of east timor 7 i still remember as if it was yesterday the first paper on precolonial history of east timor that i have presented in late september 1983 in a solidarity. It occupies the eastern half of the island of timor, the small nearby islands of atauro kambing and jaco, and the enclave of ambeno, including the town of pante makasar, on the northwestern coast of timor. The east timorese people have endured a long history of colonialism. By questioning portugals status as the administering authority and subsequently declining to rule on indonesias status regarding east timor, the i. How well has the causality of the conflict in east timor been. The end of the uns thirteenyear peacebuilding effort in east timor has left behind.
The rest of the island of timor, and the other islands that were later to become indonesia, were colonised by the dutch between the 17th and 19th centuries, and were known as the dutch east indies. The first inhabitants are thought to be descendant of australoid and melanesian peoples. East timor has an exclusive economic zone of 70,326 km 2 27,153 sq mi. It was a portuguese colony during about 500 years 15151975, and annexed by indonesia during about 24 years 19751999. Dec 19, 2001 us approved 1975 indonesian invasion of east timor by frank gaglioti 19 december 2001 previously secret documents published by the national security archive at george washington university prove. A brief history of timor knowledge of the ancient indigenous history of the island of timor is limited. Agreement with east timor clarifies legal status of greater sunrise gas field and establishes regime to develop and share. The plaintiff in this case is the portuguese republic portugal who argues that when australia signed the treaty of 1989 with indonesia regarding the timor gap, it did not respect the administrative authority of portugal concerning east timor, and thus, did not. Australia and timorleste strike deal on maritime boundary dispute. East timor or timorleste officially the democratic republic of timorleste portuguese. From the 16th century onwards, east timor was a portuguese colony known as portuguese timor. History of east timor lonely planet travel information.
Despite achieiving full independence in may 2002, the country was a smoking ruin with 80% of its infrastructure destroyed and communities obliterated. To date, the medium of instruction policy appears to combine. East timor history portuguese and dutch traders made the first western contact with east timor in the early 16th century. This research monograph is the first book to combine a historical analysis of the creation and. Divided leadership in a semipresidential system jstor. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The world bank was involved particularly earlyin planning for east timors development. Prior to colonisation, timor was divided into dozens of small kingdoms ruled by traditional kings called liuri. As east timor moves forward, navy takes an interest in partnership. The dawan or atoni, who might have been the earliest settlers of the islands. East timor is a country in southeast asia, officially known as democratic republic of timor leste.
Etanus provides information about, and ways to help, east timor, which was invaded and subjugated by us ally indonesia in 1975. The decolonization of east timor and the united nations norms on selfdetermination and aggression roger s. There have been notable reductions in various forms of violence in. The people of the first new nation of the century suffered some of the worst atrocities of modern times in. The creation of the east timorese economy volume 1.
Sandalwood and spice traders, as well as missionaries, maintained sporadic contact with the island until 1642, when the portuguese moved into timor in strength. Australia and timor leste strike deal on maritime boundary dispute. War, genocide, and resistance in east timor, 197599. Portugal remains a limited administering authority over east timor, with east timor remaining a nonself. Australia and timorleste strike deal on maritime boundary. The country comprises the eastern half of the island of timor and the nearby islands of atauro and jaco. Alkatiri prime minister of the democratic republic of east timor. East timor declared itself independent from portugal on 28 november 1975, but was invaded by neighbouring indonesia nine days later. Political dynamics, development, and international involvement congressional research service 6 n may 20, 2002, the democratic republic of east timor timorleste gained its independence, and on september 27, it became the 191st member of the united nations. The country is located on east part of timor island another part is where indonesia is located. Etan advocates changing us foreign policy and urges support for selfdetermination and human rights for east timor. Clarkt introduction the island of timor lies some 400 miles off the northwest coast of australia, at the tip of the chain of islands forming the republic of indonesia. East timor, island country in the eastern lesser sunda islands, at the southern extreme of the malay archipelago.
Taylor, indonesias forgotten war, the hidden history of east timor. The former portuguese ter ritory, a colonial backwater. A country in transition worlds newest nation in urgent need of international assistance to ensure stability in its transition childrens and womens lives continue to be at risk due to limited access to basic services. East timor s road to independence achieved on 20 may 2002 was long and traumatic.
The united nations launches a groundbreaking new multimedia website, momentum. The creation of the east timorese economy springerlink. East timor s financial system essentially revolves around banking and currency exchange activities. Pdf despite almost 500 years of direct contact with the west, the linguistic history of east timor has been relatively little studied to date. History of east timor, experience the modern and ancient historic past events, people and governments of east timor lonely planet lonely planet travel guides and travel information hi there, we use cookies to improve your experience on our website. During the 25 years of indonesian rule, armed and peaceful east timorese groups struggled to overthrow the occupier. A second wave, which arrived around 3000 years bc, consisted of. Isaacson gives a figure of 100,000 deaths resulting from the occupation, or oneseventh of the population, and there are good judges who put this. Despite almost 500 years of direct contact with the west, the linguistic history of east timor has been relatively little studied to date. Part of the palgrave studies in economic history book series pehs. Sep 12, 2000 australia let indonesia invade east timor in 1975. The day after kissinger left djakarta in 1975, the armed forces of indonesia employed american weapons to invade and subjugate the independent former portuguese colony of east timor. As east timor moves forward, navy takes an interest in. A brief history of east timor new internationalist.
The decolonization of east timor and the united nations. Indonesia invades east timor early in the morning, indonesian forces launch a massive invasion of the former portuguese half of the island of timor, which lies near australia in the timor sea. East timors road to independence achieved on 20 may 2002 was long and traumatic. His research focuses on the military, political violence and history in. Agreement with east timor clarifies legal status of greater sunrise gas field.