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| − | {{Contracted}}
| + | #Redirect[[East Timor]] |
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| − | {{Infobox_Country
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| − | |native_name = <small>''Repúblika Demokrátika Timor Lorosa'e<br />República Democrática de Timor-Leste''</small>
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| − | |conventional_long_name = <small>Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste</small>
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| − | |common_name = East Timor
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| − | |image_flag = Flag of East Timor.svg
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| − | |image_coat = East_timor_coa.png
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| − | |image_map = LocationEastTimor.png
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| − | |national_motto = <small>''Honra, Pátria e Povo<br>([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]: Honor, Homeland, and People)''</small>
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| − | |national_anthem = [[Pátria]]
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| − | |official_languages = [[Tetum]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
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| − | |capital = [[Dili]]
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| − | |latd=8 |latm=34 |latNS=S |longd=125 |longm=34 |longEW=E
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| − | |largest_city = [[Dili]]
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| − | |government_type = [[Republic]]
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| − | |leader_title1 = [[President of East Timor|President]]
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| − | |leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of East Timor|Prime Minister]]
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| − | |leader_name1 =[[Xanana Gusmão]]
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| − | |leader_name2 = [[José Ramos Horta]]
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| − | |area_rank = 159th
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| − | |area_magnitude = 1 E10
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| − | |area= 14,609
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| − | |areami²= 5,640
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| − | |percent_water = Negligible
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| − | |population_estimate = 1,040,880
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| − | |population_estimate_rank =153rd
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| − | |population_estimate_year = July 2005
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| − | |population_census =
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| − | |population_census_year =
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| − | |population_density =69
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| − | |population_densitymi² =179.7
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| − | |population_density_rank = 128th
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| − | |GDP_PPP = $370 million
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| − | |GDP_PPP_rank = 210th
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| − | |GDP_PPP_year= 2005
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| − | |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $400
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| − | |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 192nd
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| − | |sovereignty_type = Independence
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| − | |sovereignty_note = From [[Portugal]]<sup><small>2</small></sup>
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| − | |established_event1 = Declared
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| − | |established_event2 = Recognized
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| − | |established_date1 = [[November 28]] [[1975]]
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| − | |established_date2 = [[May 20]] [[2002]]
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| − | |HDI = 0.513
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| − | |HDI_rank = 140th
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| − | |HDI_year = 2003
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| − | |HDI_category = <font color="#FFCC00">medium</font>
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| − | |currency = [[U.S. Dollar]]<sup><small>3<small></sup>
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| − | |currency_code = USD
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| − | |country_code =
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| − | |time_zone =
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| − | |utc_offset = +9
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| − | |time_zone_DST =
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| − | |utc_offset_DST =
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| − | |cctld = [[.tl]] <small>([[.tp]] is being phased out)</small>
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| − | |calling_code = 670}}
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| − | The '''Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste''', known before independence as '''East Timor''', is a country in [[Southeast Asia]] comprising the eastern half of the island of [[Timor]], the nearby islands of [[Atauro Island|Atauro]] and [[Jaco (East Timor)|Jaco]], and [[Oecussi-Ambeno]], an [[exclave]] of East Timor on the northwestern side of the island, surrounded by [[Indonesia]]n [[West Timor]]. The small country of 14,609 square kilometers (5376 square miles) is located about 640km (400 miles) northwest of Darwin, [[Australia]].
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| − | With the [[Philippines]], Timor-Leste is one of only two predominantly [[Roman Catholic]] countries in [[Asia]]. Up to 70,000 Timorese died fighting the Japanese in World War II, and up to 200,000 died in the struggle for independence.
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| − | == Geography ==
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| − | The highest point of Timor-Leste is [[Mount Ramelau]] (also known as [[Mount Tatamailau]]) at 2,963 metres (9,721 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]).
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| − | The [[climate]] is tropical, generally hot and humid, and is characterized by distinct rainy and dry seasons. The capital, largest city and main port is Dili, and the second-largest city is the eastern town of [[Baucau]]. Dili has the only functioning international airport — airstrips in Baucau and Oecusse are used for domestic flights. Dili's airport runway is unable to accommodate large aircraft.
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| − | Natural resources include gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, and marble. Natural hazards include floods and landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, and tropical cyclones. Widespread use of slash-and-burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion.
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| − | == History ==
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| − | [[Australoid]] people, who populated [[New Guinea]] and [[Australia]], arrived in Timor about 40,000 years ago. Around 3000 [[Anno Domini|BCE]], a second migration brought [[Melanesian]]s, who later colonized the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Finally, proto-[[Malay people|Malay]]s arrived from south [[China]] and north [[Indochina]]. The mountainous nature of the country meant that these groups could remain separate, and explains the linguistic diversity in East Timor today.
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| − | Timor was incorporated into Chinese and Indian trading networks of the 14th century as an exporter of aromatic sandalwood, slaves, honey and wax. The island had a number of small chiefdoms in the early 16th century, including the [[Wehale kingdom]] in central Timor, with its capital at [[Laran]], West Timor, to which the Tetum, [[Bunaq]] and [[Kemak]] ethnic groups were aligned.
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| − | [[Image:CIA-TimorLeste.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Map of East Timor with cities]]
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| − | The Portuguese were the first [[Europe]]ans to arrive in the 16th century. They established outposts in Timor and in some surrounding islands, which were lost to [[Netherlands|Dutch]] control by the mid 17th century. The area became a Portuguese colony in 1702. In the 18th century, the Netherlands were formally given West Timor in 1859 through the [[Treaty of Lisbon]]. The Hague Treaty of 1916, established what became the international boundary between East Timor and Indonesia.
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| − | In late 1941 Portuguese Timor was briefly occupied by Dutch and Australian troops, fighting the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]]. When the Japanese landed and drove the small Australian force out of Dili, the mountainous interior became the scene of a [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] campaign, known as the [[Battle of Timor (1942-43)|Battle of Timor]], waged by [[Allied]] forces and Timorese volunteers against the Japanese. The struggle resulted in the deaths of between 40,000 and 70,000 Timorese. Portuguese control was reinstated after the end of the war,.
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| − | In 1974, Portugal abandoned East Timor, which declared itself independent on November 28, 1975. Indonesian forces invaded nine days later. Indonesia alleged that the East Timorese Fretilin party, which received support from the [[People's Republic of China]], was communist. Fearing a [[Communist]] domino effect in Southeast Asia, the U.S. and Australia did not object to the pro-Western Indonesian government's actions. The territory was declared the 27th province of Indonesia in July 1976 as "Timor Timur". The East Timorese guerrilla force, [[Falintil]], fought a campaign against the [[Indonesian]] forces from 1975 to 1999.
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| − | Indonesian rule was marked by violence, such as the [[Dili massacre]], in which about 250 youngsters were killed at the Santa Cruz Cemetery in on November 12, 1991, and the [[Liquiçá Church Massacre]], in which pro-Indonesian militia killed 200 in April, 1999. Attacks on civilian populations were only nominally reported in the Western press. Death tolls reported during the occupation varied from 60,000 to 200,000.
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| − | Following a UN-sponsored agreement between Indonesia, Portugal and the US, the East Timorese voted for full independence in a referendumon on August 30, 1999. But violent clashes broke out soon afterwards, so a peacekeeping force (INTERFET, led by Australia) intervened. Sporadic armed raids continued from across the border. As these raids were repelled, the militias dispersed and INTERFET was replaced by a UN force.
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| − | Portugal recognized independence on May 20, 2002, and Timor-Leste joined the UN on September 27 of that year. By mid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned.
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| − | [[Image:carlosbelo.jpg|left|thumb|[[Bishop Carlos Belo]] (left), winner of 1996 [[Nobel Peace Prize]]]][[Image:EastTimor.JoseRamosHorta.01.jpg|left|thumb|100px|[[José Manuel Ramos Horta]], winner of 1996 [[Nobel Peace Prize]]]] In 1996, Bishop [[Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo]] and [[José Ramos-Horta]], two leading East Timorese activists for peace and independence, received the [[Nobel Peace Prize]].
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| − | But in April, 2006, a rally in support of 600 dismissed Timor-Leste soldiers turned into rioting. Five people were killed and over 20,000 fled their homes. Fierce fighting between pro-government troops and disaffected Falintil troops broke out in May. The distribution of oil funds and the poor organization of the Timor-Leste army and police was seen as the cause of the fighting. Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri called the violence a "coup" and welcomed offers of foreign military help. Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand,and Portugal sent troops. On June 21, 2006, President Xanana Gusmao asked Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri to step down. Jose Ramos Horta was appointed as his successor on July 8, 2006.
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| − | == Politics ==
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| − | [[Image:Gouverneurspalast klein.jpg|right|thumb|290px|Government Palace in Dili]]
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| − | The [[Head of state]] of the Timor-Leste republic is the president, who is elected for a five-year term. Following elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition. As head of government the prime minister presides over the Council of State or cabinet.
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| − | The unicameral Timor-Leste parliament is the National Parliament of East Timor|National Parliament]] or ''Parlamento Nacional'', whose members are elected by to a five-year term. The number of seats can vary from a minimum of 52 to a maximum of 65, though it has 88 members in 2006. The Timor-Leste constitution was modelled on that of Portugal. The country is divided into 13 administrative districts.
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| − | == Economy ==
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| − | Timor was best known for its sandalwood. In late 1999, Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias destroyed about 70 percent of the economic infrastructure, and 260,000 people fled west. Over the next three years the UN led a massive international program, manned by civilian advisers, 5000 peacekeepers and 1300 police officers, to rebuild both urban and rural areas.
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| − | Under international guidance, much of the agriculture sector was converted from [[Subsistence farming|subsistence crops]] to [[cash crops]] to create an export-oriented economy. This failed due to low global market prices. Meanwhile, consumer prices rose by 4-5 percent in 2003-2004. Lacking its former subsistence crops, East Timor entered 2005 with food shortages. Extensive drought in 2003 and the gradual winding down of the international presence reduced non-petroleum GDP growth. The country faces challenges in rebuilding infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people.
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| − | The development of oil and gas resources in 2006 began to supplement government revenues above expectations - the result of high petroleum prices - but did little to create jobs, because the gas is piped to Australia.
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| − | Timor-Leste has the lowest per capita income in the world (US$400 per annum). The unemployment rate was estimated at 50 percent in 2001. About 42 percent live below the poverty line. Between 1999 and 2002, Timor-Leste received $2.2-billion in foreign aid.
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| − | Agricultural products include coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, and vanilla. Exports in 2005 totalled US$10-million, excluding oil. The sole destination for exports was Indonesia. Imports in 2004 totalled US$202-million and comprised food, gasoline, kerosene, and machinery.
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| − | == Demographics ==
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| − | The population of Timor-Leste is about one million. It has grown considerably recently, because of a high birth rate, but also because of the return of refugees. The population is concentrated around Dili.
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| − | Most Timorese are of mixed Malayo-Polynesian and Melanesian/Papuan descent. The largest Malayo-Polynesian ethnic groups are the Tetun (100,000), primarily on the north coast and around Dili; the Mambae (80,000), in the central mountains; the Tukudede (63,170), in the area around Maubara and Liquiçá; the Galoli (50,000), between the tribes of Mambae and Makasae; the Kemak (50,000) in north-central Timor island; and the Baikeno (20,000), around Pante Macassar. The main tribes of Papuan origin include the Bunak (50,000), in the central interior; the Fataluku (30,000), in the east near Lospalos; and the Makasae, toward the eastern end of the island.
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| − | There is a smaller population of people of mixed Timorese and Portuguese origin, known in Portuguese as ''Mestiço''. The best-known ''Mestiço'''s are Xanana Gusmão, the resistance fighter and now president of Timor-Leste, and Prime Minister José Ramos Horta. Mário Viegas Carrascalão, Indonesia's appointed governor between 1987 and 1992, is also ''Mestiço''.
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| − | Upon independence, Timor-Leste became one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic [[Christianity|Christian]] countries in Asia (the other being the Philippines). Ninety percent are Roman Catholic, though local [[animism|animist]] traditions persist. Five percent are [[Islam|Muslim]] and three percent are [[Protestant]]. Smaller [[Hinduism|Hindu]], [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] and traditional animist minorities make up the remainder.
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| − | Timor-Leste's two official languages are Portuguese and Tetum, a local [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian language]]. Tetum, known as ''Tetun-Dili'', grew out of the dialect favored by the colonizers at Dili. There are also a variety of non-official dialects known as ''Tetun-Terik''. Indonesian and English are defined as working languages. Another fifteen indigenous languages are spoken.
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| − | == Culture ==
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| − | [[Image: leia_livros_timor.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Campaigning for reading in Timor-Leste]]
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| − | The culture of Timor-Leste reflects numerous cultural influences, including Portuguese, Roman Catholic, and Malay, on the indigenous [[Austronesian]] and [[Melanesia]]n cultures of Timor. Legend has it that a giant crocodile was transformed into the island of Timor, or ''Crocodile Island'', as it is often called.
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| − | Timor-Leste now has public holidays that commemorate historic events in the liberation struggle, as well as those associated with Catholic Christianity, as well as the Feast of the Crocodile on May 3.
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| − | Illiteracy is widespread. Easily the most famous Timor-Leste author is the president[[Xanana Gusmão]], who wrote two books during the struggle for independence. Also a poet and painter, he produced works describing the culture, values, and skills of the Timorese people. There is a strong tradition of poetry.
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| − | [[Timor-Leste]]'s music reflects its history under the control of both [[Portugal]] and [[Indonesia]], who have imported music like [[gamelan]] and [[fado]]. The most widespread form of native folk music was the [[likurai]] dance, performed to by women to welcome home men after war. A modern version of the dance is used by women in courtship.
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| − | East Timorese popular musicians include the band [[Dili All Stars]] and [[Lahane]], both of whom were associated with the independence movement, as well as [[Teo Batiste Ximenes]], who grew up in [[Australia]] and uses folk rhythms from his homeland in his music. Refugee camps in Portugal mixed together the music of Timor-Leste with styles from other Portuguese colonies like [[Angola]] and [[Mozambique]]. The guitar is widely played there, with similar native kinds of [[string instrument]]s. Foreign influences also include popular styles of music like [[rock and roll]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]] and [[reggae]].
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| − | Some Portuguese-style buildings can be found, although the traditional totem houses of the eastern region survive. These are known as "uma lulik" (sacred houses) in Tetum, and "lee teinu" (houses with legs) in Fataluku. Craftsmanship is widespread, as is the weaving of traditional scarves or "tais".
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| − | An interesting point of culture is that it is duty for adult women (from the age of 15 years) to remove all body hair (except on their head), even the hair on their forearms.
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| − | {{credit|65912116}}
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