East Timor ( id, Timor Timur) was a claimed
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...
of
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guinea. In ...
that existed between 1976 and 1999 during the
Indonesian occupation of
East Timor
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-wester ...
. Its territory corresponded to the previous
Portuguese Timor
Portuguese Timor ( pt, Timor Português) was a colonial possession of Portugal that existed between 1702 and 1975. During most of this period, Portugal shared the island of Timor with the Dutch East Indies.
The first Europeans to arrive in the ...
and to the present-day independent country of
Timor-Leste
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-weste ...
.
From 1702 to 1975, East Timor was an
overseas territory
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...
of Portugal, called "
Portuguese Timor
Portuguese Timor ( pt, Timor Português) was a colonial possession of Portugal that existed between 1702 and 1975. During most of this period, Portugal shared the island of Timor with the Dutch East Indies.
The first Europeans to arrive in the ...
". In 1974, Portugal initiated a gradual
decolonisation
Decolonization or decolonisation is the undoing of colonialism, the latter being the process whereby imperial nations establish and dominate foreign territories, often overseas. Some scholars of decolonization focus especially on independence ...
process of its remaining overseas territories, including Portuguese Timor. During the process, a civil conflict between the different Timorese parties erupted. In 1975, Indonesia invaded East Timor and in 1976,
it formally annexed the territory, declaring it as its 27th province and renaming it "Timor Timur". The United Nations, however, did not recognise the annexation, continuing to consider Portugal as the legitimate administering power of East Timor. Following the end of Indonesian occupation in 1999, as well as
a United Nations administered transition period, East Timor became formally
independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independe ...
of Portugal in 2002 and adopted the official name of
Timor-Leste
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-weste ...
.
Background
From 1702 to 1975, East Timor was an
overseas territory
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...
of Portugal, lately being officially the Portuguese overseas province of Timor, usually referred as "Portuguese Timor". Following the "
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution ( pt, Revolução dos Cravos), also known as the 25 April ( pt, 25 de Abril, links=no), was a military coup by left-leaning military officers that overthrew the authoritarian Estado Novo regime on 25 April 1974 in Lisb ...
" of 1974, the new
Government of Portugal
, border = Central
, image =
, caption =
, date =
, state = Portuguese Republic
, address = Official Residence of the Prime Minister Estrela, Lisbon
, appointed = President ...
initiated a gradual decolonization process of its overseas territories, including Portuguese Timor. During the process, a civil conflict between the several Timorese political parties erupted, with the left-wing
Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) prevailing and being able to control the capital
Dili
Dili ( Portuguese/Tetum: ''Díli'') is the capital, largest city of East Timor and the second largest city in Timor islands after Kupang (Indonesia). It lies on the northern coast of the island of Timor, in a small area of flat land hemmed in ...
, obliging the Portuguese governor and his staff to move his seat to the
Atauro Island
Atauro ( pt, Ilha de Ataúro, Tetum and Indonesian: ''Pulau Atauro'' or ''Ata'uro''), also known as Kambing Island ( id, Pulau Kambing), is an island and municipality ( pt, Município Ataúro, links=no, tet, Munisípiu Atauro, links=no or ...
.
On the 28 November 1975, Fretilin unilaterally declared the independence of the then Portuguese Timor, calling it ''República Democrática de Timor-Leste'' (Portuguese for "
Democratic Republic of East Timor"). Portugal did not however recognize that independence, with the Portuguese governor continuing to be present and formally administering the province from Atauro, although having a limited ''de facto'' authority over the remaining territory of East Timor.
Nine days later, Indonesia began the invasion of the majority of the territory of East Timor. Following the invasion, the Portuguese governor and his staff left Atauro aboard two Portuguese warships. As a statement of Portuguese sovereignty, Portugal maintained those warships patrolling the waters around East Timor until May 1976.
On 17 July 1976, Indonesia formally annexed East Timor as its 27th province and changed its official name to ''Timor Timur'', the Indonesian translation of "East Timor". The use of the
Portuguese language
Portuguese ( or, in full, ) is a western Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European language family, originating in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is an official language of Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, ...
was then forbidden, as it was seen as a relic of colonisation.
The annexation was recognized by a few countries, the most relevant being the United States and Australia, but was not recognized by Portugal, the majority of other countries and the United Nations. The United Nations continued to recognise Portugal as the legitimate administering power of East Timor.
The Indonesians left in 1999 and East Timor came under the
administration of the United Nations.
After the re-establishment of the independence of Timor-Leste in 2002, the East Timorese government requested that the name ''Timor-Leste'' be used in place of "East Timor". This is to avoid the Indonesian term and its reminder of the Indonesian occupation.
Government
As with all provinces of Indonesia, executive authority was vested in a
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
(''Gubernur'') and Vice-Governor (''Wakil Gubernur'') elected by popular vote every five years. Legislative authority was vested in a People's Representative Council (''Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat'').
Governors
List of Governors of East Timor Province (
Indonesian
Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to:
* Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia
** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago
** Indonesian ...
: ''Gubernur Provinsi Timor Timur'') from 1976 to 1999:
People's Representative Council
Composition of the People's Representative Council between 1980 and 1999:
Administrative divisions
The province was divided into thirteen regencies (
''kabupaten'') and one administrative city (
''kota administratif''). These are listed below along with their districts (
''kecamatan''), per December 1981:
*
Dili Administrative City, served as the capital of East Timor, also the capital and part of Dili Regency, consisted of East Dili (''Dili Timur'') and West Dili (''Dili Barat'') districts, which formerly belonged to Dili Regency before the creation of the administrative city status in November 1981.
*
Dili Regency, consisted of Dili Administrative City,
Atauro
Atauro ( pt, Ilha de Ataúro, Tetum and Indonesian: ''Pulau Atauro'' or ''Ata'uro''), also known as Kambing Island ( id, Pulau Kambing), is an island and municipality ( pt, Município Ataúro, links=no, tet, Munisípiu Atauro, links=no or ) ...
and
Metinaro
Metinaro is a town in Metinaro Subdistrict, Dili District, East Timor. The coast has a wonderful diving area with a colourful world of animals.
Metinaro is also the home of the East Timor's 1st Battalion F-FDTL ( Forças de Defesa de Tim ...
districts.
*
Baucau Regency, with its capital at
Baucau
Baucau ( pt, Baucau, tet, Baukau) is the second-largest city in East Timor, after Dili, the capital, which lies to its west.
Baucau has about 16,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of Baucau municipality, located in the eastern part of th ...
, consisted of Baucau,
Vemasse,
Laga,
Baguia,
Venilale, and
Quelicai districts.
*
Manatuto Regency, with its capital at
Manatuto
Manatuto is a city in Manatuto Municipality, East Timor.
Manatuto Vila has 3,692 inhabitants (Census 2015) and is capital of the subdistrict and district Manatuto. It is on the north coast of Timor, (about as the crow flies) east of Dili, t ...
, consisted of
Manatuto
Manatuto is a city in Manatuto Municipality, East Timor.
Manatuto Vila has 3,692 inhabitants (Census 2015) and is capital of the subdistrict and district Manatuto. It is on the north coast of Timor, (about as the crow flies) east of Dili, t ...
,
Laclubar
Laclubar is the main locality in Laclubar Administrative Post, Manatuto Municipality, East Timor
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. I ...
,
Barique,
Laclo
Laclo, officially Laclo Administrative Post (, ), is an administrative post (and was formerly a subdistrict) in Manatuto municipality, East Timor. Its seat or administrative centre
An administrative center is a seat of regional administrat ...
, and
Laleia
Laleia, officially Laleia Administrative Post (, ), is an administrative post (and was formerly a subdistrict) in Manatuto municipality, East Timor. Its seat or administrative centre is .
Born
* Xanana Gusmão
José Alexandre "Xanana" G ...
districts.
*
Lautem Regency, with its capital at
Lospalos
Lospalos — sometimes erroneously written as ''Los Palos'', assuming a nonexistent Spanish etymology — is a city in East Timor, to the east of Dili, the national capital. Lospalos has a population of 17,186 (2006) and is the capital of L ...
, consisted of
Lospalos
Lospalos — sometimes erroneously written as ''Los Palos'', assuming a nonexistent Spanish etymology — is a city in East Timor, to the east of Dili, the national capital. Lospalos has a population of 17,186 (2006) and is the capital of L ...
,
Luro,
Iliomar,
Lautem, and
Tutuala
Tutuala is a village and suco in the subdistrict of Tutuala (Lautém District, East Timor). It is situated at the extreme eastern end of Timor. Its population at the 2004 census was 3,707. The subdistrict of Tutuala comprises two sucos, incl ...
districts.
*
Viqueque Regency, with its capital at
Viqueque
Viqueque (, ) is a city in the south-east of East Timor, 183 km from Dili, the national capital. Viqueque is the capital of Viqueque Municipality
Viqueque (, ) is the largest of the municipalities (formerly districts) of East Tim ...
, consisted of
Viqueque
Viqueque (, ) is a city in the south-east of East Timor, 183 km from Dili, the national capital. Viqueque is the capital of Viqueque Municipality
Viqueque (, ) is the largest of the municipalities (formerly districts) of East Tim ...
,
Ossu,
Uato-Lari,
Lacluta, and
Uato-Carbau districts.
*
Ainaro Regency, with its capital at
Ainaro, consisted of
Ainaro,
Maubisse
Maubisse (''Maubesse, Mau-Bessi, Maobisse, Maubise'') is a historic town in the hills 70 km south of Dili, in Ainaro District, East Timor. It is a popular tourist destination and a weekend visiting spot for people from the capital. The ...
,
Hatu-Bullico,
Hato-Hudo, and
Mape
The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), also known as mean absolute percentage deviation (MAPD), is a measure of prediction accuracy of a forecasting method in statistics. It usually expresses the accuracy as a ratio defined by the formula:
: ...
districts.
*
Manufahi Regency, with its capital at
Same, consisted of
Same,
Alas,
Fato-Berliu, and
Turiscai districts.
*
Kova-Lima Regency, with its capital at
Suai, consisted of
Suai,
Tilomar,
Fohorem
Fohorem (''Fuorém''), officially Fohorem Administrative Post (, ), is an Administrative posts of East Timor, administrative post (and was formerly a subdistrict) in Cova Lima Municipality, Cova Lima municipality, East Timor.[< ...]
,
Fatu-Lulic, and
Fatu-Mean districts.
*
Ambeno Regency, with its capital at
Pante-Makassar, consisted of
Pante-Makassar,
Oe-Silo,
Nitibe, and
Passabe districts.
*
Bobonaro Regency, with its capital at
Maliana
Maliana is a city in East Timor, 149 kilometers southwest of Dili, the national capital. It has a population of 22,000. It is the capital of the district of Bobonaro and Maliana Subdistrict, and is located just a few kilometers from the bor ...
, consisted of
Maliana
Maliana is a city in East Timor, 149 kilometers southwest of Dili, the national capital. It has a population of 22,000. It is the capital of the district of Bobonaro and Maliana Subdistrict, and is located just a few kilometers from the bor ...
,
Bobonaro
Bobonaro is a town in Bobonaro Subdistrict, Bobonaro District, East Timor., United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency The district capital is not in Bobonaro, but is in Maliana
Maliana is a city in East Timor, 149 kilomet ...
,
Lolotoi,
Atabai,
Balibo
Balibo is a town in East Timor situated approximately from the Indonesian border. It is located in the subdistrict of Balibo, Bobonaro District.
It was estimated by Human Rights Watch that 70 per cent of the town was destroyed during t ...
, and
Cailaco
Cailaco is a town in Cailaco Subdistrict in the Bobonaro District of East Timor
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eas ...
districts.
*
Liquica Regency, with its capital at
Liquica, consisted of
Liquica,
Bazar-Tete, and
Maubara
Maubara is a village in Maubara Subdistrict ( Liquiçá District, East Timor), just west of the city of Liquiçá. Most of the inhabitants speak Tocodede. It lies near the Maubara Important Bird Area, encompassing the small coastal Lake ...
districts.
*
Ermera Regency, with its capital at
Ermera
Ermera (''Vila Ermera'') is a city in East Timor
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island o ...
, consisted of
Ermera
Ermera (''Vila Ermera'') is a city in East Timor
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island o ...
,
Atsabe,
Hatolia,
Lete-Foho, and
Railaco districts.
*
Aileu Regency, with its capital at
Aileu
Aileu is the main township in Aileu District, East Timor. It is located 47 km (29 mi) southwest of Dili, the national capital, and had a population of 2,788 in 2015.
In Portuguese Timor, the city was known as Vila General Carmona, a ...
, consisted of
Aileu
Aileu is the main township in Aileu District, East Timor. It is located 47 km (29 mi) southwest of Dili, the national capital, and had a population of 2,788 in 2015.
In Portuguese Timor, the city was known as Vila General Carmona, a ...
,
Remexio,
Laulara, and
Lequidoe districts.
Gallery
File:Museum of East Timor.jpg,
See also
*
Indonesian occupation of East Timor
*
East Timor–Indonesia relations
East Timor and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 2002. Both share the island of Timor. Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975 and annexed East Timor in 1976, maintaining East Timor as its 27th province until a United N ...
References
External links
Report of CAVR — Chega!
ETAN.org: East Timor Action Network*
{{coord, 8.55, S, 125.56, E, type:country, display=title
Indonesian occupation of East Timor
Former provinces
History of East Timor
1970s in East Timor
1980s in East Timor
1990s in East Timor
States and territories established in 1976
States and territories disestablished in 1999
1976 establishments in Indonesia
1999 disestablishments in Indonesia
1970s establishments in East Timor
1990s disestablishments in East Timor
1976 establishments in Southeast Asia
1999 disestablishments in Southeast Asia
History of Timor