Day 65: Sea Day - Passing By Timor Leste

Be honest, have you ever heard of Timor Leste? I certainly hadn't until I saw it on our route map a few days ago. Today, we are sailing south of some of the minor outlying Indonesian Islands on our way to Komodo National Park (famous for...), and we passed to the south of Timor Leste. It's a country—actually, the newest country recognized by the UN to be formed in the 21st century. Timor Leste is also known as East Timor, or officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor - of which the western half is administered by Indonesia - the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-western coast and the minor islands of Atauro and Jaco.  

The eastern part of the island has human inhabitants dating back almost 40,000years, although Westerners only found it some 400 years ago. It came under Portuguese influence, initially as a trading base and eventually as a settlement because of conflict with the Dutch. Effective European occupation in the east of the island only began in 1769, when the city of Dili was founded, although actual control remained highly limited. A definitive border between the Dutch and Portuguese parts of the island was established by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 1914 and remains the international boundary between the successor states Indonesia and East Timor, respectively.

The Portuguese retained control until 1975, when, after a mini-revolution, they effectively abandoned their colony to a distinctly communist-oriented guerilla group. The Indonesians, not liking the look of their new neighbors, invaded in late 1975 and declared the island a province in mid-76. The occupation was marked by violence and brutality, and over 200,000 people died in the next 25 years. Eventually, the UN forced Indonesia to allow a referendum, and in May 2001, the East Timorese elected to become an independent state. On 20 May 2002, the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor came into force, and East Timor was recognized as independent by the UN.

The country is starting to become a tourist destination, promoting eco-tours, snorkeling, and beaches, but it is obviously not enough to persuade our cruise ship to stop there.


Trivia - translated - East Timor means "East East". 

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 11, 2024 at 6:31 PM

    I carried quota, quite small but quota nonetheless, for East Timor and PNG!

    ReplyDelete

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