Timor-Leste
Democratic Republic of Timor-LesteRepublika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
republic
Timor-Leste as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 fields, one of 24 editions from 2002 to 2025.
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was subsequently incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur. A so-called campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which time an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, the people of Timor Timur voted for independence from Indonesia. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's newest democracy.
Geography
18 fieldsLocation
- Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago;
- note - East Timor 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
Environment - current issues
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Geography - note
Timor is the Malay word for "Orient"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2002 est.)
Languages
Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English note: there are a total of about 16 indigenous languages, of which Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Government
Republic; President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 88 seats, elected 30 August 2001one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
- conventional short form:
- East Timor
- local short form:
- Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
- former:
- Portuguese Timor
- local long form:
- Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
Administrative divisions
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence
- 28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal);
- note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)
- cabinet:
- Council of State
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
- election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007);
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
- election results:
- Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do Amaral 17.3%
Legislative branch
- unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms);
- note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis
- elections:
- last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%;
- seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary
Political parties and leaders
- Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL];
- Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES];
- Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES];
- Democratic Pary or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];
- Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA];
- People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];
- Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO];
- Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];
- Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA];
- Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL];
- Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO];
- Timor Labor Party or TRABALHISTA [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA];
- Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO];
- Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida Santos COSTA]
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador-designate Jose Luis GUTERRES
- chancery:
- NA
- consulate(s) general:
- NA
- FAX:
- NA
- telephone:
- NA
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
- embassy:
- Avenido do Portugal, Farol, Dili
- mailing address:
- NA
- telephone:
- (670) 390 324 684
- FAX:
- (670) 390 313 206
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;
- there is a white star in the center of the black triangle
Economy
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.
32 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2001)
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. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term project would be development of oil resources in nearby waters.
Agriculture - products
coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Communications
10 fieldsTransportation
10 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
7 fieldsMilitary branches
- the East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises a light-infantry Army and a small Naval component;
- note - plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve personnel over the next five years
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets to survey and delimit land boundary;
- Indonesia seeks resolution of East Timor refugees in Indonesia;
- Australia-East Timor-Indonesia are working to resolve maritime boundary and sharing of seabed resources in "Timor Gap"
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “East Timor.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/timor-leste/2002.