East Timor Research

7/21/2019 East Timor Research

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/east-timor-research-56e02d8f433b6 1/12

EAST TIMOR AND EVERYTHINGYOU MUST KNOW

A research paper in

Comparative Government of Southeast Asia

Submitted to

Professor Palenzuela

By

John Daniel E. Finuliar / PS1332



Summary

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste gained independence on May 20, 2002, after a longhistory of Portuguese colonialism and, more recently, Indonesian rule The young nation, !ith a

population of "" million, has been aided by the #nited $ations under se%eral different mandatesunder !hich the #$ has pro%ided peace&eeping, humanitarian, reconstruction and capacity building assistance to establish a functioning go%ernment The current #nited $ations IntegratedMission in Timor-Leste '#$MIT( is slated to !ithdra! from the nation at the end of 20"2

The independence of Timor-Leste 'also &no!n as )ast Timor( follo!ed a #$-organi*ed "+++referendum in !hich the )ast Timorese o%er!helmingly %oted for independence In response,Indonesian-bac&ed pro-integrationist militias !ent on a rampage, &illing an estimated ",00 people and destroying much of Timor-Lestes infrastructure .or se%eral years thereafter, theinternational communitys main concern focused on possible tensions in )ast Timors relations!ith Indonesia /ince 200 the main threat to )ast Timor has been internal strife resulting from!ea& state institutions, ri%alries among elites and security forces, deep-set po%erty,unemployment, east-!est tensions !ithin the country, and population displacement

The situation in Timor-Leste in 20"2 is relati%ely calm compared !ith recent periods of politicalstrife and insurrection The country held Presidential elections in March and 1pril, !hich led tothe election of Tuar Matan Rau&, a former army chief The #$ described the polls as peaceful,smooth and orderly3 Parliamentary polls are due on 4uly 5 /tability has been aided by the 200reintroduction of peace&eeping troops and a #nited $ations mission, the flo! of re%enue fromhydrocarbon resources in the Timor /ea, and impro%ed political stability )ast Timor hassignificant energy resources beneath the Timor /ea

That said, Timor-Leste faces many serious challenges as it see&s to establish and deepen a stabledemocracy and de%elop its economy Many institutions in the young nation remain !ea&, andtensions remain bet!een the young countrys political elites and among security forces Timor-

Leste remains one of 1sias poorest nations, ran&ing "65th out of "75 countries on the #nited $ations 8uman De%elopment Inde9 :enerating economic opportunity and employment areamong the go%ernments greatest challenges

;ongressional concerns ha%e focused on security and the role of the #nited $ations, humanrights, )ast Timors boundary disputes !ith 1ustralia and Indonesia, and the strengthening of thenations political system and functioning of its parliament <ey challenges for Timor-Lesteinclude creating enough political stability to focus on building state capacity and infrastructure, pro%iding employment, and pre%enting the oil-and-gas re%enue stream from being s=uandered bycorruption or poor in%estment decisions



Introduction

>n May 20, 2002, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste gained its independence, and on/eptember 25 of the same year it became the "+"st member of the #nited $ations ?ith the help ofthe #$ Transitional 1dministration in )ast Timor '#$T1)T(, Timor-Lestes independence mar&edthe end of three centuries of Portuguese rule and 26 years of Indonesian control

>ne of the !orlds poorest nations, Timor-Leste 'also &no!n as )ast Timor( continues to face manychallenges in consolidating its democracy and de%eloping its economy, though it has madeconsiderable strides in building stability and democratic institutions The current #$ mission, the#nited $ations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste '#$MIT(, has been present since a brea&do!n inci%il order in 200 It is preparing to !ind do!n operations by the end of 20"2

Timor-Leste emerged in 2002 as an independent state after a long history of Portuguese colonialismand, more recently, Indonesian rule Independence follo!ed a #$-organi*ed "+++ referendum in!hich the people of Timor-Leste o%er!helmingly %oted for independence, after !hich Indonesian- bac&ed pro-integrationist militias rampaged, &illing an estimated ",00 ci%ilians and destroyingmuch of Timor-Lestes infrastructure #nder se%eral different mandates, the #nited $ations has pro%ided a range of assistance, such as peace&eeping, supporting capacity building efforts to

strengthen the security and @ustice sectors, and ensuring the pro%ision of humanitarian andreconstruction aid

The current situation in Timor-Leste is relati%ely calm compared !ith past periods of political strifeand insurrection That said, some underlying tensions, such as !ith the security sector, remain to beresol%ed In a .ebruary 20"2 report, the International ;risis :roup reportedA The country ismar&edly more peaceful than !hen general elections !ere last conducted in 2005, but many of theroot causes of fragility persist3

The main threat to Timor-Leste is not e9ternal, but rather internal strife resulting from !ea& stateinstitutions, ri%alries among elites and bet!een security forces, and large-scale youth unemploymentThe reintroduction of peace&eeping troops and the #$MIT mission in 200, the flo! of re%enue

from hydrocarbon resources in the Timor /ea, and impro%ed political stability are helping Timor-Leste mo%e to!ards more effecti%e democratic go%ernment Timor-Lestes economy is deeplydependent on energy resources in the Timor /ea, !hich generate substantial re%enues that aremanaged in a Petroleum .und from !hich the go%ernment can !ithdra! a limited amount of fundsannually 1s of the end of 20"", the funds balance stood at B"0 million, and !ithdra!als accountedfor +0C of go%ernment re%enues 1 &ey issue facing the nation is ho! this !ealth !ill be managedand spent in the years ahead

Many other challenges remain, including the need for economic de%elopment that can generate @obs;ongressional concerns ha%e focused on internal security and the role of the #nited $ations, humanrights and the de%elopment of democratic institutions and the nations parliament The



8ouse Democracy Partnership has had a Timor-Leste program since 200, !hich manages training programs for Timorese legislators, and !hich has authori*ed grants for the building of aParliamentary library and the impro%ement of information technology in the Timorese parliament

Recent Developments

2012 Elections

Timor-Leste held t!o-stage Presidential elections in March and 1pril, 20"2, and !ill holdnation!ide Parliamentary polls on 4uly 5 Many obser%ers consider the polls to be an importanttest of Timor-Lestes stability In 2005, follo!ing the last nation!ide elections, %iolence flaredin se%eral cities and to!ns, and do*ens of houses !ere burned

>n 1pril ", 20"2, 4ose Maria de asconcelos 'also &no!n as Taur Matan Rau& 6(, a former army

chief !ho !as a rebel leader under Indonesian rule, !as elected as Timor-Lestes third presidentin a runoff election Though the Presidency is %ie!ed as largely ceremonial, the position is highlyco%eted and the countrys first t!o Presidents E Fanana :usmao and 4ose Ramos-8orta E !ere both considered among the most po!erful figures in go%ernment The endorsement of :umao, ahero of the Timorese independence mo%ement, !as seen as critical to asconceloss %ictory The#$ described the presidential polls as clean and orderly3

T!enty political parties are contesting 4uly 5 elections for the G-seat Parliament, the most po!erful body in Timor-Lestes Parliamentary system The countrys t!o largest political partiesare the ruling ;ongresso $acional de Reconstrucao de Timor-Leste ';$RT(, led by :usmao, andthe Trente Re%olucionaria de Timor-Leste '.retilin(, a ri%al party that emerged directly from theindependence mo%ement 1 third &ey party is the Partido Democratico 'Democratic Party(, behind !hich former president and $obel Peace Laureate 4ose Ramos-8orta has thro!n hissupport

UNMIT Plans for Withdrawal

?ith clear impro%ements in stability and economic gro!th, the role of the #nited $ations inTimor-Leste is changing and plans are in place for the #nited $ations Integrated Mission inTimor-Leste '#$MIT( to come to a close at the end of 20"2 The 4oint Transition Plan, acollaborati%e effort bet!een the go%ernment of Timor-Leste and #$MIT, is guided by fourassumptionsA

H the maintenance of stability

H completion of national elections in accordance !ith international standards

H the formation of a go%ernment based on the outcome of the elections

H the ability of the political opposition to operate !ithin democratic principles

The main purpose of the 4oint Transition Plan is to assist !ith the completion or hando%er of#$MIT acti%ities by the time the mission departs and to ensure continuity in the transition from peace&eeping to statebuilding The 8igh-Le%el ;ommittee on Transition '8L;( is a @ointmechanism established for transition planning and implementation The 8L; currently o%erseesse%en !or&ing groups !hich bring together staff from the go%ernment and the #$ system tofocus on the transition process



In $o%ember 20"", at the second meeting of the 8L;, the go%ernment of Timor-Leste re=uestedthat #$MIT present options for a post-#$MIT engagement in the country .our possible modelsof a future #$ presence in Timor-Leste !ere put for!ard /till under discussion, any future#$ engagement !ould need to support the go%ernment and other national institutions andreflect the scope of tas&s and acti%ities re=uired beyond December 20"2, possibly as identifiedthrough the !or&ing groups in%ol%ed in @oint transition planning

Petroleum Fund

The management of the Petroleum .und, !hich finances around +0C of go%ernment spending, isone of the go%ernments largest economic challenges The fund had a balance of around B"0 billion as of the end of 20""

>%er the past t!o years, Timor-Leste has announced substantial increases in go%ernmentspending, dra!ing on its steadily gro!ing petroleum reser%e, from !hich it is allo!ed to!ithdra! only a limited amount annually The go%ernments .J20"2 budget rose 0C from.J20"" In addition to directing funds to!ards traditional areas such as infrastructure, ruralde%elopment and public ser%ices, it has also created ne! funding %ehicles for large-scaleinfrastructure and human capital The political opposition has alleged that the go%ernment isspending unsustainably, that its in%estments are reaching a small minority of the population, andthat the e9pansionary budget has brought inflation that stands around "7C >ne of the #nited/tatess assistance goals through a B"0 million Millennium ;hallenge ;ompact signed in 20"0 isimpro%ing the go%ernments capacity in managing financial controls

External Relations

Timor-Leste continues to recei%e strong political, economic and security assistance from

1ustralia, $e! Kealand, Portugal, and the #nited $ations Timor-Leste and 1ustralia ha%e anongoing dispute o%er their @oint de%elopment of hydrocarbon resources in the Timor /ea Timor-Leste hopes to construct an onshore Li=uefied $atural :as 'L$:( processing plant, !hile the1ustralian company ?oodside Petroleum fa%ors offshore processing ;ontinued disagreement

o%er this matter has the potential to strain relations !ith 1ustralia Timor-Leste is also see&ingto become a member of the 1ssociation of /outheast 1sian $ations '1/)1$( and has broadlymaintained good !or&ing relations !ith Indonesia ;hina has substantially increased itsassistance to Timor-Leste in recent years It recently established a B" billion fund forPortuguese- spea&ing nations and has plans to train ",G00 officials for !or& in these countries,!hich could include Timor-Leste

Political Leaders

Xanana Gusmao



Fanana :usmao is the current prime minister and former president of Timor-Leste 1s one ofthe most %isible symbols of the Timorese independence mo%ement and a leader !ho has been part of each successi%e go%ernment, :usmao remains perhaps the most popular and po!erful public figure in the country

:usmao !as a ci%il ser%ant under Portuguese rule before ta&ing up arms against the Indonesianoccupation of Timor-Leste :usmao became leader of the resistance in Timor-Leste after thedeath of .retilin commander $icolau Lobato in "+57 :usmao !as captured by Indonesian forces

in "++2 and sentenced to life in prison 8e !as released by Indonesian President 4 8abibie in"+++ :usmao became Timor-Lestes first president follo!ing elections on March ", 2002 In2005, :usmao stepped do!n from the presidency to run for the office of prime minister, !hich heachie%ed through forming a coalition !ith smaller parties

Taur Matan Rauk

President Taur Matan Rau& is a former 1rmy chief efore Timor-Leste gained independence,he !as a leader of .alentil, the largest anti-Indonesian militia )lected as president in 1pril 20"2,he !as an ine9perienced politician !ho deri%ed much of his support from :usmaosendorsement 8is political inclinations are unclear

Jose Ramos-Horta

4ose Ramos-8orta, a $obel Peace Laureate, has ser%ed as both president and prime minister ofTimor-Leste Ramos-8orta left Timor-Leste days before Indonesian troops in%aded Timor-Leste in "+5G 8e !ent on to represent .retilin abroad and press for Timor-Lestes cause on theinternational stage In "++ he !as a!arded the $obel peace pri*e, along !ith ishop elo, forhis !or& to promote the independence of Timor-Leste 8e !as appointed president after theresignation of Mari 1l&atiri in 4uly 200 Ramos-8orta !as seriously !ounded in anassassination attempt led by former Ma@or 1lfredo Reinado on .ebruary "", 2007, !hich alsoslightly !ounded Prime Minister :usmao

Mari Alkatiri

Mari 1l&atiri !as prime minister until he resigned in the !a&e of unrest follo!ing the dismissalof a dissident group of Timor-Leste troops in 200 8e remains /ecretary :eneral of .retilin, thelargest opposition party, and he has considerable support !ithin the country Li&e Ramos-8orta,1l&atiri !ent abroad as Indonesian forces in%aded Timor-Leste in "+5G 1l&atiri is part of thesmall minority of Muslims in Timor-Leste Many obser%ers describe the relationship bet!een1l&atiri and :usmao as one of intense ri%alry

Structure of Parliament

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has a unicameral national parliament of G membersThe current parliament !as elected on 4une 0, 2005 1 ne! body !ill be selected in elections on4uly 5, 20"2



The parliament gre! out of an 77-member ;onstituent 1ssembly that !as elected in 1ugust 200"and drafted a constitution for Timor-Leste that !ent into effect in 2002 Timor-Leste at that time!as under the administration of the #nited $ations, !hich had ta&en control in late "+++ afterIndonesia !ithdre! from the territory Timor-Leste formally became independent on May 20,2002 The ne! constitution pro%ided for an elected parliament of G2 to G members, but the;onstituent 1ssembly declared itself the first national parliament of the ne! state .retilin isthe party that led the resistance to Indonesian rule The constitution also pro%ided for

parliamentary go%ernment !ith a largely symbolic, popularly elected President

The parliamentary election of 2005 led to a coalition go%ernment headed by Fanana :usmao !ho!as s!orn into office on 1ugust , 2005 :usmao heads the 1lianca com Maioria Parlementar'1PM(, or 1lliance of the Parliamentary Ma@ority, !hich is a four party coalition The partiesincluded in the coalition areA the $ational ;ongress for Timorese Reconstruction, the DemocratParty, the Timorese 1ssociation of /ocial Democrats, and the /ocial Democrat Party The mainopposition party is the .rente Re%olucionario do Timor-Leste Independence '.retilin(

The unicameral G-seat national parliament faces many challenges Many members fought !iththe .retilin resistance to Indonesian rule and entered parliament !ith no legislati%e e9perience.e! members are college educated The business of parliament is hampered by the practice of

Members using both legal languages, Tetum and Portuguese ;ommittees reportedly attempt toe9ercise o%ersight o%er the e9ecuti%e branch, but the committees ha%e fe! staff Members ha%elittle staffing support and fe! computers

The Economy

Timor-Leste is one of the poorest countries in the !orld !ith appro9imately half of Timoreseli%ing on a dollar a day or less :enerating employment is one of the go%ernments most pressing

challenges $early 70C of the population li%es from subsistence farming+

#nemployment andunderemployment combined are as high as 50C, !ith a 20C unemployment in urban areas and a60C rate among youth

"0The go%ernment estimates that around 60C of the population li%es

belo! the po%erty line, and per capita income is estimated at BG62 per annum

Timor-Leste is one of the most energy-dependent economies in the !orld, based on re%enuesfrom de%elopment of oil and gas in the Timor /ea It has de%eloped some small-scale agriculturale9ports, particularly coffee, and tourist arri%als ha%e risen rapidly, though still only reached25,000 in 200+ The economy is almost e9clusi%ely dependant on go%ernment spending andforeign donor contributions Much infrastructure de%elopment is needed 1ccording to the /tateDepartments budget @ustification document for .J 20"A $on-e9istent or under-de%elopedinfrastructure, high unemployment, and the potential for insecurity pose ma@or de%elopmentchallenges as the country tries to ma&e the transition from post-conflict reco%ery to long-termeconomic and political de%elopment3

""

Portugal, 1ustralia, and $e! Kealand ha%e been three of the more acti%e supporters of Timor-

Leste Timor-Leste and 1ustralia ha%e a @oint agreement for the e9ploitation of the oil and gasresources in the seabed that lies beneath the Timor /ea that separates the t!o nations The largestoil and gas field is &no!n as :reater /unrise ?hile the :reater /unrise area has yet to achie%ede%elopment leading to full production, Timor-Leste has built up considerable reser%e funds fromthe smaller ayu-#ndan oil and gas field These reser%es are thought to be !orth appro9imately



B billion >ne &ey contro%ersy in%ol%es the 1ustralian consortiums intensions to build a

li=uefied natural gas 'L$:( processing plant offshore rather than in Timor-Leste Timoresego%ernment officials ha%e long sought an onshore L$: facility to boost employment

Historical Background

In the "60s, the Portuguese began to assert control o%er Timor-Leste This colonial presence!ould last until "+5G !hen the Re%olutionary .ront for an Independent Timor-Leste '.retilin(gained ascendancy o%er the Timorese #nion Party, pushed them out of Timor-Leste in a briefci%il !ar, and declared independence on $o%ember 27, "+5G Indonesia in%aded Timor-Leste onDecember 5, "+5G, and began a period of occupation during !hich an estimated "00,000 to2G0,000 Timor-Lesteese died

Indonesias anne9ation of Timor-Leste as its 25

th pro%ince !as

not recogni*ed by the #nited $ations

#nder the super%ision of the #nited $ations, anational referendum to decide on eitherautonomy !ithin Indonesia or on

independence from it !as held, under #$super%ision, in Timor-Leste on 1ugust 0,"+++ /e%enty-eight percent of the +7C of registered %oters !ho %oted opted for independence This led to !idespreadretaliation and destruction by pro-integrationist militias bac&ed by elements of the Indonesian military !ho !ere in fa%or of integration !ith Indonesia More than ",00Timor-Lesteese !ere &illed, and the displacedincluded more than 20,000 in ?est Timor and 200,000 in Timor-Leste /e%enty percent

of Timor-Lestes economic infrastructure'such as housing stoc&, public buildings, andutilities(, 70C of the schools, and %irtually allmedical facilities !ere destroyed by themilitias To =uell the %iolence andrestore order, a #$-authori*ed peace&eepingmission International .orce Timor-Leste'I$T)R.)T( !as established 'under1ustralian command( and deployed on/eptember 20, "+++ 1ustralia has continuedto play a leading role both in #$ operationsand on a bilateral basis !ith Timor-Leste since

"+++

Timor-Leste in Brief

Area: 14,609 sq km (slightly larger thanConnecticut)

Capital: Dili

Population: 1.1 million

Religion: 96.5% Catholic, 1% uslim, 1%!rotestant

Language: "etum (91%) an# !ortuguese(1$%) are the oicial languages. &n#onesian(4$%), 'nglish (6%), an# other in#igenouslanguages are also soken

Literacy: 50.1%

GDP growth rate: .$% (*011 est.)

GDP per Capita: +54*

Unemployment: unemloymentan# un#eremloyment areestimate# to e 0%

Poerty: -oughly hal o the oulation iselo/ the oerty line.

!"ports: Coee, oil, an# natural gas

#ar$ets: ustralia, 'uroe, 2aan, 3nite#tates

Life e"pectancy at %irth: 59. years male,61.5 years emale

&nfant mortality rate: 64 er 1,000 irths

'ources: CIA World Factbook 3..Deartment o tate ustralian 7oernment,Deartment o 8oreign airs an# "ra#eorl# :ank, World Development Indicators



Internal Strife and Political Turmoil, 2006-2008

1 police mutiny in 200 led to the deterioration of Timor-Lestes internal security situation andthe reintroduction of foreign peace&eepers, from 1ustralia, $e! Kealand, Portugal, and MalaysiaThe 1ustralian military contingent !as the largest !ith some ","00 troops in country The

peace&eepers !ere deployed at the in%itation of the Timor-Leste go%ernment"6

#$ /ecurity

;ouncil Resolution "506 of 1ugust 2G, 200, established the #nited $ations Integrated Missionin Timor-Leste '#$MIT( !ith up to ",07 police personnel and up to 6 military liaison and staff officers #$MITs mission included supporting the Timor-Leste go%ernment in consolidatingstability, enhancing a culture of democratic go%ernance, and facilitating political dialogue among

Timorese sta&eholders in their efforts to bring about a process of national reconciliation3"G

The turmoil of 200 can be traced to former Prime Minister 1l&atiris dismissal of G+" membersof the ",G00-man military in March 200 Those dismissed had protested their !or&ing conditionsand pay and claimed discrimination against members of the force from !estern districts of TimorLeste In 4uly 200, it !as reported that the police had bro&en into factions, !ith some ta&ing

their !eapons to @oin rebels in the hills"

The March 200 dismissal of the protesting troops led torioting, looting, a number of deaths, and the fleeing of tens of thousands of mostly eastern Timor-

Leste from the capital, Dili, beginning in 1pril 200 1s a result, 1l&atiri stepped do!n

1 #$ in%estigation found 1l&atiri to ha%e failed to use his firm authority to denounce thetransfer of security sector !eapons to ci%ilians3

"5.ormer Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato !as

sentenced to se%en years imprisonment for authori*ing the transfer of !eapons to pro-.retilinsupporters and a .retilin-lin&ed hit s=uad

"7

1nother dimension of the escalating %iolence in Timor-Leste is the gangs of largely unemployedyouth ?ith the collapse of la! and order in the !a&e of the May 200 police and militaryclashes, gang %iolence s!ept through Dili, leading to further deaths, the displacement of more

Dili residents from the capital, and the !idespread destruction of property"+

>ne of the leaders of the %iolent protests of March 200, !hich resulted in the mutiny of soldiers

from !estern districts, !as Ma@or 1lfredo Reinado T!o years later, on .ebruary "", 2007, agroup of assassins led by Reinado failed in their attempt to assassinate president Ramos-8ortaand Prime Minister :usmao Reinado, !ho !as &illed in the failed attempt, !as the leader of agroup of o%er 00 former soldiers !ho had been fired from the army for stri&ing o%er percei%edregional discrimination in 1pril 200 The ne! leader of Reinados group subse=uentlysurrendered in 1pril 2007

Population Displacement and Humanitarian Issues

Overview of Humanitarian Developments

In addition to the #$ peace&eeping operation, the international humanitarian aid community inTimor-Leste includes the #nited $ations, international organi*ations, non-go%ernmentalorgani*ations, and donor go%ernments that pro%ide contributions and in-&ind bilateral assistanceThe international community !or&s closely !ith the )ast Timor Red ;ross ';ru* ermelha deTimor-Leste( and !ith other national and local organi*ations

Many of the ci%ilians displaced by ci%il disturbances and strife in 200 returned to their homes inthe 2007-200+ time period y 1pril 2007, internally displaced persons 'IDPs( !illing to returnrecei%ed reco%ery and reintegration pac&ages and the go%ernment began to decommission someof the IDP camps 'at the height of the crisis there !ere reportedly G IDP camps( The Ministryof /ocial /olidarity 'M//( o%ersa! the returns process !ith assistance from international

organi*ations such as the International >rgani*ation for Migration 'I>M( In $o%ember 2007,



roughly "0,600 families recei%ed reco%ery pac&ages and returned and appro9imately 2"camps closed, !hile transitional shelter sites !ere constructed and continued to house some of the displaced >n .ebruary 27, 20"0, the last transitional shelter officially closed >n May ",20"0, the M// concluded the housing assistance component #nseasonable rains in 4uly and1ugust 20"0 caused se%ere floods and landslides on the southern coast and in the DiliDistrict, necessitating a disaster-response effort

Timor-Leste no longer has a humanitarian crisis 8o!e%er, much of its population remains highly

%ulnerable because the country continues to face challenges !ith regard to po%erty 1long !ithincreasing food prices and shortages of dietary staples, scarcity of arable land and the impact ofnatural disasters ha%e been cited as the primary reasons for a deterioration in food security.urthermore, the sustainability of returns has been impacted by unsettled land disputes, conditionof the homes destroyed or damaged during the conflict, and fear of %iolence in home %illages, allof !hich ha%e continued to present difficulties !ith reintegration of IDPs into their original

communities2"

Local communities may de%elop resentment to!ards the go%ernment if ne! landtitle la!s pro%e to be disrupti%e to local residents, many of !hich hold their land under customary practice

In December 2007, the #$ >ffice for the ;oordination of 8umanitarian 1ffairs '#$>;81(ended its formal mission in Timor-Leste In 20"0, the #$ Deputy /pecial Representati%e for:o%ernance /upport, De%elopment and 8umanitarian ;oordination relin=uished the title of8umanitarian ;oordinator, a further indication that the humanitarian crisis !as o%er /upportfrom #$>;81 continues for specific, long-term acti%ities .or e9ample, on December " and 2,20"", it helped organi*e a !or&shop on disaster ris& management, the focus of !hich !as tore%ie! the state of preparedness for natural disasters and the contingency planning process)fforts in%ol%ing other #$ entities ha%e included climate change adaption strategies and planning

Ta%le () Chronology

1640s "he !ortuguese egin their erio# o inluence oer 'ast "imor.

195 8retilin #eclares in#een#ence on ;oemer * an# &n#onesia ina#es 'ast "imor on Decemer

, 195. -esistance, reression, an# amine lea# to the #eath o anestimate# *00,000 y the en# o &n#onesian rule in 1999.

1999 "he 3.;. ission in 'ast "imor (3;'") is estalishe# in 2une toorgani<e a reeren#um an# oersee the transition. 'ast "imorese thenoer/helmingly ote or in#een#ence in the 3; sonsore# reeren#um onugust $0. ome 1,$00 'ast "imorese are kille# an# hun#re#s o thousan#sare #islace# as a result o ost reeren#um attacks y ro=&n#onesianmilitias. "he &nternational 8orce 'ast "imor (&;"'-8'") is estalishe# un#erustralian comman# an# #eloye# on etemer *0. "his is ollo/e# y the3.;. "ransitional uthority or 'ast "imor (3;"'") rom >ctoer 1999 toay *00*.

*000 n international commission o inquiry recommen#s that a secial triunale estalishe# to look into ost reeren#um iolence o 1999.

*001 >n ugust $0, 'ast "imor hol#s elections or a Constituent ssemly to #rata ne/ constitution.

'ast "imor an# ustralia sign an o3 on "imor ea oil an# gas iel#s.

*00* 'ast "imor gains its in#een#ence on ay *0. "he 3nite# ;ationsestalishes the 3.;. ission o uort in 'ast "imor (3;&'"), /hich ise?ten#e# until ay *006. "he "ruth an# -econciliation Commission oens.&n#onesia oens its inquiry into the atrocities.

*004 !ro#uction at the :ayu=3#an oil an# gas iel# egins in the "imor ea. >nlyone in#ii#ual, ilitia

@ea#er 'urico 7uterres is conicte# y &n#onesian courts or auses in the ost1999 iolence.

*005 "he 3.;. eacekeeing mission leaes 'ast "imor in ay. "he 2oint

&n#onesian='ast "imorese "ruth Commission egins.



*006

2anuaryA 'ast "imor an# ustralia sign a #eal to share reenues rom 7reaterunrise iel# /ithout negotiating the maritime oun#ary.

8eruaryA >er 400 troos strike oer ay an# con#itions.

archA ome 591 troos rotesting ay an# con#itions

are #ismisse#. rilA Demonstrations outsi#e the

goernment !alace turn iolent.

ayA Biolence mountsA &nterior inister @oato arms ciilian grous an# thegoernment aeals or oreign assistance. !resi#ent 7usmao #eclares a stateo emergency an# assumes #irect control o security orces. 8oreign troosarrie to restore or#er.

2uneA !rime inister lkatiri resigns.

2ulyA ;oel !ri<e laureate 2ose -amos=orta is s/orn in as

!rime inister. ugustA "he 3.;. &ntegrate# ission in "imor=

@este (3;&") is estalishe#.

rilA 8irst roun# o resi#ential elections lea#s to a run o et/een 8rancisco7uterres an# -amos= orta an# orta /ins.

ugustA 8ollo/ing 2une elections anana 7usmao ecomes !rime inister as thehea# o a our=arty coalition goernmenment.

*00 ttemte# assassination o !resi#ent -amos=orta an# !rime inister7usmao. -eel lea#er

-eina#o kille# in the attemt.

*00 Eoint &n#onesia='ast "imor truth an# reconciliation commission in#srights iolations #uring the

&n#onesian occuation an# 1999 reeren#um. "he lea#ers o oth nationsrule out rosecuting military an# militia lea#ers.

arch *011 3.;. agencies return control o the countryFs security to 'ast "imorFsnational olice ater taking oer ollo/ing the *006 unrest

ril *01* "aur atan -auk electe# !resi#ent in run=o election

2uly , *01* !arliamentary elections (sche#ule#)



*igure () #ap of Timor-Leste

'ource: a ;o. 4*6 -e 6. 3nite# ;ations, Deartment o 8iel# uort,Cartograhic ection. *009.

Documents

East Timor Research