East-Timor (Timor-Leste) in 2002

East-Timor (Timor-Leste) in 2002

Area: 14,604 sq km (5,639 sq mi) Population 797,000 Capital: Dili Chief of state: President (from May 20) Xanana Gusmão Head of government: Prime Minister (from May 20) Mari Alkatiri

On May 20, 2002, in the presence of international officials who included the president of Indonesia, East Timor officially celebrated its independence, and on September 27 Timor-Leste (the Portuguese spelling of its name) became the 191st member of the United Nations. These events marked the end of almost five centuries of foreign domination: Portuguese colonization, occupation by the Indonesian military, and, for the preceding three years, United Nations administration. In April 2002 the UN Security Council proposed a two-year mission of support (UNMISET) to assist with the orderly transfer of authority to the new government.

East Timor adopted a liberal form of government. Parliament was the sovereign body, with 88 deputies elected for five-year terms. The president was head of state, elected by direct universal suffrage to a five-year term (with a two-term limit). The government was led by the prime minister, who was designated by the majority party and nominated by the president.

The new nation faced enormous difficulties. East Timor was one of the poorest countries in Asia, with 41% of the population living below the poverty line. In addition, some 250,000 Timorese had been removed to West Timor (Indonesia) during the war of independence and were attempting to return.

Indonesia remained the focus of East Timor’s external relations. In February a commission was put in place with a two-year mission of establishing the truth about crimes committed against the population between 1974 and 1999. The following month a special Indonesian court heard accusations against 18 Indonesian military, militia, and civilian leaders, and the former Indonesian governor-general of East Timor was being sought for crimes against humanity.

Charles Cadoux