Timor-Leste, also called East Timor, is a country in Southeast Asia occupying the eastern half of the island of Timor, together with a small enclave and nearby islands, at the edge of the Indonesian archipelago. Unusual in its region for its Portuguese colonial heritage and its largely Catholic faith, it endured a long and painful struggle for freedom, first from Portugal and then from a brutal Indonesian occupation. Restoring its independence in 2002, it became the first new sovereign nation of the twenty-first century.
The island of Timor was long divided in influence, and from the sixteenth century the Portuguese established themselves in the east, ruling it as a remote colony for centuries while the Dutch held the west, which later became part of Indonesia. When Portugal withdrew in 1975 and East Timor declared independence, it was almost immediately invaded and annexed by neighbouring Indonesia. The occupation that followed was harsh and cost a great many lives. After a referendum in 1999 in which the people voted for independence, and a period of United Nations administration, Timor-Leste became fully independent in 2002.
Timor-Leste occupies the eastern part of the mountainous island of Timor, plus the enclave of Oecusse on the western, Indonesian side, and a couple of small islands. The land is dominated by a rugged central mountain range, dropping to narrow coastal plains, with a hot climate and a marked dry season that can be severe. The terrain is steep and prone to erosion, and the surrounding seas are rich in marine life, part of the biologically diverse Coral Triangle, while offshore lie the oil and gas reserves on which the economy heavily depends.
The flag of Timor-Leste is red with a black triangle at the hoist, edged by a wider yellow triangle, and a white star on the black. The red represents the struggle for national liberation, the yellow the traces of colonialism in the country's history, and the black the obscurantism that must be overcome, while the white star symbolises peace and the light that guides the nation. The design dates from the 1975 declaration of independence and was restored when full sovereignty was achieved in 2002.
Timor-Leste is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, a legacy of Portuguese rule and, paradoxically, a faith that grew even stronger during the Indonesian occupation, when the Church became a refuge and a voice for the people, helping to forge national identity. The country is one of only two in Asia with a Catholic majority. Alongside the dominant Catholicism are small Protestant and Muslim minorities, and traditional animist beliefs and customs, deeply rooted in the culture, still persist and often blend with Christian practice in everyday life.
The cuisine of Timor-Leste blends Southeast Asian staples with a Portuguese influence left by centuries of colonial rule. Rice and maize are the staples, accompanied by fish and seafood from the surrounding seas, pork and other meats, and an abundance of tropical vegetables and fruit. Dishes are often flavoured with tamarind, chili, and spices, and the Portuguese legacy appears in stews and in the country's strong coffee. Simple, hearty cooking based on local produce reflects a largely rural society in which many families grow much of their own food.
Agriculture is the livelihood of most of the population of Timor-Leste, the majority of whom are subsistence farmers growing maize, rice, cassava, and vegetables, and raising livestock in the rugged hill country. The most important agricultural export by far is coffee, grown in the highlands and prized for its quality, which provides a livelihood for many rural families. The wider economy, however, is dominated by revenues from offshore oil and gas, on which the young state depends heavily, leaving it with the challenge of developing other sectors.
Centuries of Portuguese colonial rule set Timor-Leste apart from its neighbours, but its defining ordeal was the long Indonesian occupation from 1975, marked by great suffering and resistance, and the courageous independence movement led by figures who would become national leaders. The referendum of 1999, followed by violence and then by United Nations stewardship, paved the way to the restoration of independence in 2002, making Timor-Leste the first new nation of the new century, an event watched with hope around the world.
Timor-Leste has a population of around 1.3 million people, made up of various ethnic groups of mixed Austronesian and Melanesian heritage, speaking many local languages. Tetum and Portuguese are the official languages, while Indonesian and English are also widely used, a reflection of the country's layered history. The population is young, growing, and largely rural, concentrated in the hill country and along the coast, with the largest city the capital, Dili. The nation faces the task of building prosperity and institutions after its long and costly road to freedom.
