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Region:
Southeast Asia
Capital:
Dili
Population:
1,019,252 [Note:
other estimates
range as low
as 800,000 (July
2004 est.)]
Surface
area:
15,007 sq km
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
GDP
per capita:
purchasing power
parity - $500
(2001 est.)
Background:
The Portuguese
began to trade
with the island
of Timor in the
early 16th century
and colonized
it in mid-century.
Skirmishing with
the Dutch in
the region eventually
resulted in an
1859 treaty in
which Portugal
ceded the western
portion of the
island. East
Timor declared
itself independent
from Portugal
on 28 November
1975 and was
invaded and occupied
by Indonesian
forces nine days
later. It was
incorporated
into Indonesia
in July 1976
as the province
of East Timor.
A campaign of
pacification
followed over
the next two
decades, during
which an estimated
100,000 to 250,000
individuals lost
their lives.
On 30 August
1999, in a UN-supervised
popular referendum,
the people of
East Timor voted
for independence
from Indonesia.
During 1999-2001,
anti-independence
militias - supported
by Indonesia
- conducted indiscriminate
violence. On
20 May 2002,
East Timor was
internationally
recognized as
an independent
state.
Economy
– Overview:
In late 1999,
about 70% of
the economic
infrastructure
of East Timor
was laid waste
by Indonesian
troops and anti-independence
militias, and
260,000 people
fled westward.
Over the next
three years,
however, a massive
international
program, manned
by 5,000 peacekeepers
(8,000 at peak)
and 1,300 police
officers, led
to substantial
reconstruction
in both urban
and rural areas.
By mid-2002,
all but about
50,000 of the
refugees had
returned. Growth
was held back
in 2003 by extensive
drought and the
gradual winding
down of the international
presence. The
country faces
great challenges
in continuing
the rebuilding
of infrastructure,
strengthening
the infant civil
administration,
and generating
jobs for young
people entering
the workforce.
One promising
long-term project
is the planned
development of
oil and gas resources
in nearby waters,
but the government
faces a substantial
financing gap
over the next
several years
before these
revenues start
flowing into
state coffers.
United
Nations membership
date:
27 September
2002
New York
Mission:
Permanent Mission
of the Democratic
Republic of Timor-Leste
to
the United Nations
866 Second Avenue,
9th Floor
New York, N.Y.
10017
Telephone: (212)
759-3675
Telefax: (212)
759-4196
Email: timor-leste@un.int
Website:
http://www.un.int/timor-leste
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