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. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but
Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War
II. 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 Timor
Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful 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, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste
voted for independence from Indonesia. Between the referendum and the
arrival of a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999,
anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the
Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of
retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forcibly
pushed 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. The majority of the
country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water
supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electrical
grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping
troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to
the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002,
Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In
late April 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security
when a military strike led to violence and a near breakdown of law and
order in Dili. At the request of the Government of Timor-Leste, an
Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to
Timor-Leste in late May. In August, the UN Security Council established
the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an
authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. In subsequent months,
many of the ISF soldiers were replaced by UN police officers;
approximately 80 ISF officers remained as of January 2008. From April to
June 2007, the Government of Timor-Leste held presidential and
parliamentary elections in a largely peaceful atmosphere with the support
and assistance of UNMIT and international donors.
Geography
Timor-Leste
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northwest of
Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian
archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of
Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island
of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates:
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km water: NA sq km
floods and landslides are
common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:
widespread use of slash and
burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Climate
Change, Desertification
Geography - note:
Timor comes from the Malay word
for 'East'; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is
the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands
People
Timor-Leste
Population:
1,108,777 note:
other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2008 est.)
total: 21.5 years
male: 21.5 years female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.05% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
26.52 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.02 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64
years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92
male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008
est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 41.98
deaths/1,000 live births male: 48.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.94
years male: 64.6 years female: 69.39 years (2008
est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.36 children born/woman (2008
est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases:
chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:
Austronesian
(Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%,
Protestant 1% (2005)
Languages:
Tetum (official), Portuguese
(official), Indonesian, English note: there are about 16
indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by
significant numbers of people
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write total population: 58.6%
male: NA female: NA (2002)
Government
Timor-Leste
Country name:
conventional long form:
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste conventional short form:
Timor-Leste local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor
Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste
[Portuguese] former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E time
difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
28 November 1975 (independence
proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of
international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November
(1975)
Constitution:
22 March 2002 (based on the
Portuguese model)
Legal system:
UN-drafted legal system based
on Indonesian law remains in place but is to be replaced by civil and
penal codes based on Portuguese law; these have passed but have not been
promulgated; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2007); note - the president plays
a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve
parliament, and call national elections head of government:
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007), note - he
formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO; Deputy Prime Minister Jose
Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August 2007) cabinet: Council of
Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April
2007 with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following
elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority
coalition as prime minister election results: Jose RAMOS-HORTA
elected president; percent of vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco
GUTTERES 30.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament
(number of seats can vary from 52 to 65; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 30 June 2007
(next elections due by June 2012) election results: percent of
vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT 24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN
4.5%, KOTA-PPT (Democratic Alliance) 3.2%, UNTERDIM 3.2%, others 8.9%;
seats by party - FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT
2, UNDERTIM 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice -
constitution calls for one judge to be appointed by National Parliament
and rest appointed by Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme
Court is established, Court of Appeals is highest court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or PD
[Fernando de ARAUJO]; National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or
CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO]; National Democratic Union of Timorese Resistance or
UNDERTIM [Cornelio DA Conceicao GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN
[Fernanda BORGES]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];
Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari
ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic Association of Timor or ASDT [Francisco
Xavier do AMARAL]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];
Sons of the Mountain Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN] (also known as
Association of Timorese Heroes)
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Constancio PINTO
chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202 FAX: [1] (202)
966-3205 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Hans G. KLEMM embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia
dos Conqueiros, Dili mailing address: US Department of State,
8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250 telephone: (670)
332-4684 FAX: (670) 331-3206
Flag description:
red, with a black isosceles
triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer
yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is
in the center of the black triangle
Economy
Timor-Leste
Economy - overview:
In late 1999, about 70% of the
economic infrastructure of Timor-Leste was laid waste by Indonesian troops
and anti-independence militias. Three hundred thousand people fled
westward. Over the next three years 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 the
end of 2005, refugees had returned or had settled in Indonesia. The
country continues to face great challenges in rebuilding its
infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating
jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of oil and
gas resources in offshore waters has begun to supplement government
revenues ahead of schedule and above expectations - the result of high
petroleum prices. The technology-intensive industry, however, has done
little to create jobs for the unemployed because there are no production
facilities in Timor. Gas is piped to Australia. In June 2005 the National
Parliament unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve
as a repository for all petroleum revenues and preserve the value of
Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held
assets of US$1.8 billion as of September 2007. The mid-2006 outbreak of
violence and civil unrest disrupted both private and public sector
economic activity and created 100,000 internally displaced persons - about
10 percent of the population. While real non-oil GDP growth in 2006 was
negative, the economy probably rebounded in 2007. The underlying economic
policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas
wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and reduce
poverty. In late 2007, the new government announced plans aimed at
increasing spending, reducing poverty, and improving the country's
infrastructure, but it continues to face capacity constraints. In the
short term, the government must also address continuing problems related
to the crisis of 2006, especially the displaced Timorese.
50% estimated; note -
unemployment in urban areas reached 20%; data do not include underemployed
(2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
42% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38 (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.4% (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $733 million
expenditures: $309 million note: the government
passed a transitional budget to cover the latter half of 2007 and has
moved the fiscal cycle to a calendar year, starting with the budget they
passed for 2008 (FY06/07 est.)
coffee, sandalwood, marble;
note - potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners:
US, Germany, Portugal,
Australia, Indonesia (2006)
Imports:
$202 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, gasoline, kerosene,
machinery
Economic aid - recipient:
$184.7 million (2005 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Timor-Leste
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,500 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
49,100 (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment:
rudimentary service limited to urban areas domestic: system
suffered significant damage during the violence associated with
independence; extremely limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular
services and coverage limited primarily to urban areas
international: country code - 670; international service is
available in major urban centers
Radio broadcast stations:
at least 21 (Timor-Leste has
one national public broadcaster and 20 community and church radio stations
- frequency type NA)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (Timor-Leste has one national
public broadcaster)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.tl
Internet hosts:
94 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
1,000 (2004)
Transportation
Timor-Leste
Airports:
8 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3 2,438 to
3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1
(2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5 914 to
1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Heliports:
9 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 6,040 km
paved: 2,600 km unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
by type: passenger/cargo
1 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Dili
Military
Timor-Leste
Military branches:
Timor-Leste Defense Force
(Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada)
(2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary
military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 284,903
females age 16-49: 272,212 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 224,096
females age 16-49: 231,901 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 16-49: 13,045
females age 16-49: 12,670 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Transnational Issues
Timor-Leste
Disputes - international:
Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary
Committee has resolved all but a small portion of the land boundary, but
discussions on maritime boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the
uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and
alignment with Australian claims in the south; many refugees who left
Timor-Leste in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation;
Australia and Timor-Leste agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of
the boundary for 50 years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside
the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty
