EAST TIMOR - Politics of Southeast Asia

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND This country is the newest state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern part of the island of Timor and the enclave Oecusse, which is surrounded by Indonesian West Timor on three sides.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND It is one of the (?) countries in the region and one of the world’s (?) countries with an extremely young population of 1.2 million people in 2015—according to the latest census figure

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The first Europeans to arrive on the island of Timor in the early sixteenth century. Upon their arrival, the east of Timor was divided into a “(?) of (?) with languages and cultures vastly different from those of its neighbours to the west”

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The reason why Dutch and Portugal conquered Timor leste is to sought the fabled (?). In 1613, the Dutch gained control of the (what part?) of Timor but the (?) half of the island remained under Portuguese control later known as (?).

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND A definitive border between the Dutch and Portuguese parts of the island was established by the (?) , and the division was formalized earlier in the (?) in 1859. Notably, the border established between the Dutch and Portuguese parts of Timor remains the international boundary between their successor states, Indonesia and Timor-Leste

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Although Dominican friars and merchants from Portugal established (?) and (?) in the 1550s. Portuguese influence in the region remained (?) during this period. They also struggled to cooperate with local Timorese rulers, compounded by competition with the Dutch.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND it was not until the 1700s that a governor was installed in (?) a government and claimed authority over the (?) of the island

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Only when Portuguese Timor became an autonomous colony in (?) was a unified territorial administration with a particularly repressive form of direct rule established

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The western half was the dominion of the (?) and has belonged to (?) since 1949.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND This policy in the 1960s gave locals access to posts in the civil and military administration, yet this policy primarily benefited the (?) while the majority of the population retained traditional Timorese customs, beliefs, and languages

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND This revolution in Portugal in April 1974 triggered a wave of political mobilization in Portuguese-Timor. The revolution initiated the decolonization of Portugal’s overseas territories, including East Timor, as the new government sought to dismantle its colonial empire. Several political parties were founded, including the left-wing nationalist (?), the conservative, pro-Portuguese (?) and the pro-Indonesian (?)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Tensions between FRETILIN AND UDT escalated, culminating in a brief (?) in 1975, triggered by (?). FRETILIN ultimately prevailed and declared East Timor’s unilateral independence on (date?)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Indonesian government invaded East Timor in (?). Following the adoption of a petition for annexation by a handpicked Timorese assembly, Timor-Leste was integrated into Indonesia as its (?). This marked the beginning of Indonesia’s (no of yrs?) occupation of the territory.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND It must be noted that Indonesian occupation followed a strategy called (?). It combine accelerated (?) initiatives with brutal (?) of the Timorese population.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND This once viewed as a tool of colonial oppression, transformed into a symbol of cultural identity and faith-based resistance against Indonesian assimilation

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TRUE OR FALSE: The United Nations (UN) never recognized the annexation of Timor-Leste. Despite Indonesia’s control, the UN maintained that East Timor was still under Portuguese administration, as Portugal had not formally transferred sovereignty

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND These exiled leaders, often referred to as (?) played a crucial role in advocating for East Timor’s independence on the international diplomatic front.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND An Indonesia president who agreed to hold a popular referendum over the future of the province. The referendum was organized under auspices of the UN on (?) during which 78.5% of voters rejected the Indonesian offer of autonomy, effectively voting for independence

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The pro-Indonesian militias launched (?), a violent campaign of targeted killings against political activists and voters across the island due to the result of referendum. Between 1,500 and 3,000 Timorese were killed, and the majority of the population was either displaced or forcibly relocated to West Timor, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND In response to the escalating violence and growing international outrage, the United Nations authorized the formation of an international peacekeeping force known as the (?)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND In October 1999, the (?) was established. It took full control of the government and quickly shifted from peace enforcement to building the basic state structure.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Timor-Leste embarked on its democratic journey in (?) with the election of a constitutional assembly, which culminated in the adoption of a constitution in (?)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND April 2002, Timor-Leste conducted its inaugural presidential election, resulting in a decisive victory for (?), a highly respected figure from the independence movement, who became the nation’s first president.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The country achieved official independence on (?), when the United Nations transferred authority to its newly established institutions.