East Timor

**East Timor** or the **Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste** is a country in Southeast Asia. It is on the eastern side of the island of Timor. It also includes the smaller islands of Atauro and Jaco Island, and a small area, named Oecusse, inside the west side of Timor. Oecusse is an exclave, which means it is separated from the main part of the country by part of another country. That other country is Indonesia.

The capital and largest city, Dili, is home to one hundred and fifty thousand people. The next largest city is Baucau. (see List of settlements in East Timor).

East Timor gets its name from the Malay word for "east", _timur_.

It is a member of the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

## History

For a long time, Portugal controlled the East Timor and called it the Colony of Portuguese Timor. In 1975, the Portuguese army left, and East Timor was invaded (taken over) by the Indonesian army in 1975. The invasion was very violent. The army stayed there until 1999, when they gave up control of the territory with the help of the United Nations.

At the time, the United States government said it did not know Indonesia was going to invade East Timor. But secret documents, released from 2002 to 2005, show that Henry Kissinger, the Secretary of State of the United States, did know, and supported the invasion.

When it got its independence on 20 May 2002, it became the first country to become independent in the twenty-first century (since the year 2001). In 2006, when Montenegro became independent, East Timor was no longer the newest one.

Since then, East Timor has not been given much attention in the news. Recently, the Colombian music artist Shakira made a song named "Timor", which talks about the country. The attention is because there has been fighting in East Timor between gangs (groups of criminals with guns), security forces (the country's army). Australia, a large nearby country, sent troops in to make peace.

East Timor is a small country located between Australia and Indonesia, 3,000 years ago, East Timor was a mountainous island composed of migrant indigenous people from New Guinea, Australia and Melanesia.

There were some migrants from Austronesia searching for a new life on this island. Some of the people arrived from South China and North Indochina looking for trade because East Timor had resources which could be exported, like sandalwood, honey, slaves and wax.

During the Second World War, the Japanese occupied the region, encountered strong resistance to their attempts to force the population to grow foods for their troops and export. At the time 30% of the population died.

On 25 April  1974, the Portuguese Armed Forces headed by General António de Spínola organized a Military Coup against Salazar’s regime called the Revolution of Carnations. After this revolution, Portugal decided to give freedom to the colonized countries.

## Geography

East Timor is the largest of the Lesser Sunda Islands. To the north of the island are the Ombai Strait, Wetar Strait, and the greater Banda Sea. To the south the Timor Sea separates the island from Australia.

The country has many mountains. Its highest point is Tatamailau (also known as Mount Ramelau) at . The climate is tropical and generally hot and humid.

The Nino Konis Santana National Park is on the eastern tip of the island. The park includes coral reefs, coastal area, and mountains.

## Municipalities

East Timor is divided into 13 municipalites. These were formerly named districts. The municipalities are divided into administrative posts (former subdistricts), and further subdivided into sucos. The 13 municipalities are:
- Aileu
- Ainaro
- Baucau
- Bobonaro
- Cova Lima
- Dili
- Ermera
- Lautém
- Liquiçá
- Manatuto
- Manufahi
- Oecusse
- Viqueque

## Other websites

- Asia Times article on the Timor Gap dispute
- ETAN Links – Extensive links on East Timor
- Governo Timor Leste  – Official governmental site
- Bairo Pite Clinic website – Information on Health in East Timor
- Health Alliance International website  – More information on health projects in East Timor by HAI
- Jornal Nacional – Semanário
- Links to Timor Leste government sites
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
- Suara Timor Lorosae – local newspaper in Tetum and Indonesian
- Tourism Timor-Leste – Tourism Guide to travel to Timor-Lest

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Democratic Republic of
- **common name**: Timor-Leste
- **image flag**: Flag of  East Timor.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of East Timor.svg
- **symbol type**: Emblem
- **national motto**:
"Unity, Action, Progress"
- **national anthem**:
"Fatherland"
- **image map**: Timor_Leste_(orthographic_projection).svg
- **map width**: 230px
- **map caption**: Location of Timor-Leste (green) toward the eastern end of the Indonesian Archipelago
- **capital**: Dili
- **largest city**: Dili
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Semi-presidential system, semi-presidential republic
- **leader title1**: President of Timor-Leste, President
- **leader name1**: José Ramos-Horta
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Xanana Gusmão
- **legislature**: National Parliament of Timor-Leste, National Parliament
- **sovereignty type**: History of Timor-Leste, Independence
- **sovereignty note**: from Portugal and Indonesia and United Nations Administered East Timor
- **established event1**: Portuguese Timor
- **established date1**: Early 18th century
- **established event2**: Democratic Republic of East Timor (1975), Independence declared
- **established date2**: Proclamation of Independence day, 28 November 1975
- **established event3**: Indonesian invasion of East Timor, Annexation by Indonesia
- **established date3**: 17 July 1976
- **established event4**: United Nations Administered East Timor, Administered by United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, UNTAET
- **established date4**: 25 October 1999
- **established event5**: East Timor independence, Independence restored
- **established date5**: 20 May 2002
- **area km2**: 14950
- **area rank**: 154th
- **area sq mi**: 5,752.922
- **percent water**: Negligible
- **population estimate**: 1,354,662
- **population census**: 1,341,737
- **population census year**: 2022
- **population density km2**: 89.7
- **population density rank**: 137th
- **population estimate rank**: 153rd
- **population estimate year**: 2023
- **gdp ppp**: $5 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2023
- **gdp ppp rank**: 173rd
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $3,747
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 157th
- **gdp nominal**: $2 billion
- **gdp nominal rank**: 183rd
- **gdp nominal year**: 2023
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $1,497
- **gdp nominal per capita rank**: 151st
- **gini**: 28.7
- **gini year**: 2014
- **gini change**: Steady
- **hdi**: 0.566
- **hdi year**: 2022
- **hdi change**: Decrease
- **hdi rank**: 155th
- **currency**: United States dollar<sup>b</sup>
Timor-Leste centavo coins, Timor-Leste Centavo
- **currency code**: USD
- **time zone**: Time in Timor-Leste, Timor-Leste Time
- **utc offset**: +9
- **drives on**: Left
- **calling code**: +670
- **iso3166code**: TL
- **cctld**: .tl<sup>c</sup>
- **footnote a**: Fifteen further "national languages" are recognised by the Constitution.
- **footnote b**: Timor-Leste centavo coins, Centavo coins also used
- **footnote c**: Former use of .tp has been phased out.