East Timor
Occupying 24,000 square kilometers on the eastern half of an island in the Timor Sea between Indonesia and Australia, East Timor has a population of approximately 800,000 people.
Indonesia invaded East Timor shortly after Portugal withdrew in 1975 and forcefully tried to subdue a resentful people and guerrillas fighting for independence. Indonesia finally agreed in 1999 to let the East Timorese choose between independence and local autonomy. Militia loyal to Indonesia, apparently assisted by the military, tried in vain to use terror to discourage a vote for independence. When the referendum showed overwhelming support for independence, the loyalists went on the rampage, murdering hundreds and reducing towns to ruins. An international peacekeeping force halted the mayhem and paved the way for a UN mission. East Timor was under the authority of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) until independence on May 20, 2002. The peacekeeping UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) succeeded the UN's transitional administration in May 2002. The rebuilding of East Timor has been one of the UN's biggest success stories. UNMISET wound up in May 2005, but an outbreak of violence a year later prompted the UN Security Council to set up a new peacekeeping force, UNMIT.
East Timor will rely on outside help for many years since its infrastructure is poor and the country is drought-prone. However, vast offshore oil and gas fields in the Timor Sea hold much potential. East Timor and Australia have agreed to share revenues from the reserves.
East Timor's economy relies largely on international aid. International donors agreed to provide East Timor with US$440 million in aid to help it through its first three years of independence.
President Xanana Gusmao, East Timor’s Independence hero, won as an independent in presidential elections in April 2002. Gusmao, who says unemployment and poverty are East Timor's biggest problems, took control of the army and police in May 2006 under emergency powers intended to contain gang violence.
Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former foreign minister, was named as prime minister in July 2006. His predecessor, Mari Alkatiri, resigned in June over his handling of a wave of unrest. The fighting, which was sparked by Alkatiri's decision to sack of hundreds of soldiers, prompted international peacekeepers to deploy (see below). Ramos-Horta, who was a key figure in East Timor's campaign for independence, is not a member of the ruling Fretilin party, which has faced growing disenchantment over ongoing unemployment and poverty.
Civil unrest and armed clashes broke out in Dili and other areas in May 2006, following the then-premier’s decision to dismiss hundreds of soldiers. Although security in East Timor has improved following the arrival of international forces later that month, the situation remains volatile and could deteriorate at short notice. There were renewed outbreaks of violence in Dili in October 2006 between youth gangs from different areas, leading to the Comoro airport being closed for a day. There is the potential for continued violence in Dili, particularly in the vicinity of the airport (Comoro to Fatuhada and Marconi) and on the airport road.
During such incidents, vehicles belonging to foreign citizens and organisations have been damaged and passengers injured from rocks and darts.
Tensions may also build in relation to the report of the UN Special Commission of Inquiry, which was released in October 2006.
Travelers should regularly monitor all available information on the local situation, and ensure that travel documents are up-to-date and readily available in case there is need to leave the country at short notice.
Avoid the areas surrounding IDP (internally displaced persons) camps and government buildings, including the Palacio da Cinzas and Palacio do Governno, refrain from going outside after dark and avoid any demonstrations and large crowds.
Avoid areas along the border between East and West Timor. Militia incursions have occurred in the western districts of East Timor.
East Timor is subject to seismic activity.
