They also say he may want to distract attention for the countdown to the June 7 national election. Polls show his ruling Golkar Party has little hope of winning. He is also hoping he will have more latitude in bargaining with international donors. Portugal settles east Timor as Dutch slowly conquer other islands in the surrounding archipelago. Dutch give up their colony, creating Indonesia.
Indonesian troops enter amid fighting among Timorese political groups.
As much as one-third of the 650,000 population may have been killed in fighting. U.N. maintains that Portugal is administrating power. U.N. Commission on Human Rights adopts resolution affirming East Timor's right to independence. Widespread hunger and continued battles between Indonesia troops and rebels. Government crackdown on anti-Indonesian protesters during Pope John Paul II's visit elicits U.S. condemnation.