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Historical Background of Timor-Leste

The island of Timor has a long, proud history and a rich culture built over centuries. It has been referred to by some as the "cultural funnel of the East", for the many different ethnic influences which have contributed to the island's development. The island first attracted Chinese and Malay traders in the 13th century, drawn by the abundance of sandalwood, honey and wax. The creation of these trading networks also resulted in intermarriages with the local regal families, adding to the ethnic richness of the island.

Portuguese navigators ventured to the eastern islands of the Lesser Sundas shortly after their conquest of Malacca in 1511. It has been suggested that the Portuguese may have reached Timor as early as 1512, but probably the earliest reference to the island was contained in a letter, dated 6 January 1514, from the Commander of Malacca, Rui de Brito Patalim, which refers to its plentiful supply of sandalwood.. Missionaries soon followed the traders and the Catholic faith is now the dominant religion.

During the 16th century, several Christianized regal lords placed themselves under the Portuguese Protectorate, which was then consolidated in the early 18th century with the arrival of its first governor. Their influence persisted and resulted in the colonization of the island, and particularly Timor-Leste, for over 400 years. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. In 1915, the Arbitrary Sentence signed between Portugal and The Netherlands ended the conflict between the two countries and established the borders that still today divide the island.

During World War II, the Allies (Australian and Dutch) engaged in heavy fighting with the Japanese forces in Timor. Several thousand East Timorese lost their lives fighting alongside the Allies. Imperial Japan occupied East Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II.

On 28th November 1975, following a brief civil war, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste was proclaimed. Within days, on the 7 th December1975, the new nation was invaded by Indonesia and was occupied and incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor for the next 24 years.

An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 12 November 1991, an infamous incident in Dili, known as the Santa Cruz massacre saw the shooting of unarmed East Timorese protesters, in the Santa Cruz cemetery by Indonesian troops. The protesters, mainly students, launched their protest against Indonesian rule at the funeral of a fellow student, Sebastião Gomes, who had been shot dead by Indonesian troops the month before. Now commemorated as a public holiday in an independent East Timor, 12th November is remembered by the East Timorese as one of the bloodiest days in their history, which gained international attention to their fight for independence.

On August 30th 1999, the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly for independence ending 24 years of Indonesian occupation, following a United Nations sponsored referendum. Between the referendum and the arrival of a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution.

The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into West Timor as refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end.

On 20th May 2002 Timor-Leste’s declaration of independence was restored and power handed over from the United Nations to the first Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste. Following independence, Timor Leste's popular and iconic independence leader Xanana Gusmao was made the first President.

Today, Timor-Leste's rich and diverse community reflects its varied and distinct historical influences whilst offering a warm and friendly welcome to all, now that the country has found peace at last. Timor-Leste is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the safest, if not the safest, destination in Southeast Asia.