Foreign relations of the united states, 19691976, volume e. The united states recognized timorleste, then known as east timor, on may 20, 2002, when it achieved formal independence. The indonesian invasion of east timor in december 1975 set the stage for the long, bloody, and. Documents on east timor from peacenet and connected computer. In may 2002, timorleste formerly known as east timor gained independence. Before this time, the region had been a portuguese colony up until 1975 and was under indonesian sovereignty from 1976 to 1999. Untaet united nations for transitional administration in east timor. Dec 19, 2001 us approved 1975 indonesian invasion of east timor by frank gaglioti 19 december 2001 previously secret documents published by the national security archive at george washington university prove. He has been working at the economic affairs department of the east timor regional administration since january 1986 and once received a certificate of appreciation from the home affairs minister because he helped in the conduct of the general election in east timor. The timor sea separates the island from australia to the south, and the indonesian province of east nusa tenggara lies to east timor s west. Timorleste is looking back at its history and exploring ways in which it can harness its social, cultural, economical and natural capital to move forward towards a. Jun 16, 20 cidac in lisbon has digitised and made publicly available thousands of timor archival documents. Based on interviews with almost 8000 witnesses from east timor s districts and 65 subdistricts, as well as statements from refugees over the border in west timor, the report also relies on indonesian military papers and intelligence from international sources.
This was the report of the security council mission to timorleste, from 24 to 30. At that time, east timor was administered by portugal. Genocide in cambodia and east timor 3 the choice of topic for this paper arose out of the authors personal trip to cambodia in december 2005 and the time spent one afternoon in the countryside with a local family whose smiling, aged. This site provides online documents of the crisis in east timor. Based on interviews with almost 8000 witnesses from east timors districts and 65 subdistricts, as well as statements from refugees over the border in west timor, the report also relies on indonesian military papers and intelligence from international sources. Sustainable development in timorleste national report to the united.
Australias relations with indonesia at stake over secret east timor papers canberra blocking release of 30yearold documents on atrocities as it seeks to rebuild ties with jakarta, aat told. Accession of east timor to the association of southeast. East timors people belong to a number of ethnic groups, from a mix of malayan, indonesian, polynesian, melanesian and papuan backgrounds. East timors constitutional passage to independence copyright. Pdf despite almost 500 years of direct contact with the west, the. Closer ties with asean are supported by all political parties in east timor. Us approved 1975 indonesian invasion of east timor by frank gaglioti 19 december 2001 previously secret documents published by the national security archive at george washington university prove. It consists of the eastern half of the island of timor in the indonesian archipelago, a small area on the northwest coast called oecusse and two small islands, atauro and jaco. East timor is a country in southeast asia, officially known as democratic republic of timor leste. Acts and documents relating to judgments and advisory opinions given by the court pleadings, oral arguments and documents. This was the report of the security council mission to timor leste, from 24 to 30 november 2007 2 october 2006 report of the united nations independent special commission of inquiry for timor leste. An earlier cable likewise confirmed that all indonesian forces operating.
Using primary sources on the web, university of washington. East timor, island country in the eastern lesser sunda islands, at the southern extreme of the malay archipelago. East timor includes the enclave of oecussi, which is located within west timor indonesia. In september 1974, in central java, whitlam told suharto that east timor was too small to be independent. From the 16th century onwards, east timor was a portuguese colony known as portuguese timor.
A chronology of key events in the history of east timor from the first portuguese colonisation in the 17th century to the present day. The existing historical research justifies including genocide within the juris diction of a. Documents, sources, field work and research work were not included. Timor leste to adopt greener and more sustainable development path which can only be achieved with a strong political will, financial commitment and joined effort from all stakeholders involved. The portuguese colonization and the problem of east timorese. Contemporary history, a chronology of the main events since. Australias secret history in the timor sea by kim mcgrath for fifty years, australia has schemed to deny east timor billions of dollars of oil and gas wealth. Significant progress has been made since independence, especially with regards to consolidating peace, rebuilding infrastructure and public services.
Accession of east timor to the association of southeast asian. Archived articles on east timor global policy forum. The president is directly elected to this largely ceremonial post. Framework for the study of the cold war, diplomatic history 24. The country comprises the eas tern half of the isla nd of timor and the nearby islands of atauro and jaco. The day after kissinger left djakarta in 1975, the armed forces of indonesia employed american weapons to invade and subjugate the independent former portuguese colony of east timor. Contemporary history, in carey and bentley, east timor at the crossroads, 240. Indonesian documents leaked to the media as well as united nation. After indonesia, east timor s closest neighbor is australia, 400 mi to the south. The project is directed by brad simpson, an assistant professor of u. Documents released by the us national security archive show how the us, britain and australia secretly supported the indonesian invasion and occupation of east timor through policies of silence and diplomatic assistance to jakarta. Internet east asian history sourcebook, fordham university. Deteriorating human rights in east timor september 1997. Dfat has a long, ignoble history of concealing its insights into indonesian atrocities in east timor post1975 in the name of good relations with jakarta.
Acts and documents relating to judgments and advisory opinions given by the court pleadings, oral arguments and. The portuguese period is rich in historical documents though the great. However, timorleste remains fragile as it contends with legacies of past conflict and the need to diversify its economy. In 1945, the portuguese administration was restored in timor leste. Documents on east timor from peacenet and connected. Foreign relations of the united states, 19691976, volume. Political dynamics, development, and international involvement congressional research service summary the democratic republic of timorleste gained independence on may 20, 2002, after a long history of portuguese colonialism and, more recently, indonesian rule. We provide here a brief introduction to the collection contents and some preliminary observations on the search and access system of this marvellous addition to online archives about east timor. Isaacson gives a figure of 100,000 deaths resulting from the occupation, or oneseventh of the population, and there are good judges who put this.
East timor is a parliamentary democracy, in which the president is head of state and the prime minister is head of government. With explosive new research and access to neverbefore seen documents, kim mcgrath tells the story of australias secret agenda in the timor sea, exposing the ruthlessness of successive. Acts and documents relating to judgments and advisory. The country comprises the eastern half of the island of timor and the nearby islands of atauro and jaco. East timor and indonesia action network this is a local organization website. Timor was first colonized by the portuguese in 1520. An introduction to history, politics and culture seasite, northern illinois university this site provides an online research article about the politics, history and culture of east timor. Documents on east timor from peacenet and connected computer networks volume 40. This chapter discusses in depth why east timors constitutionmaking process was.
East timor time line chronological timetable of events. East timorese, writing the national history is still too controversial a task, with tensions over the. At the uns esubscription page you can select what documents you want to receive by email or rss feed. East tim or is a country in southeast asia, officially known as democratic republic of ti mor leste. The largest ethnic group is the tetum, who may be descendants of invaders who brought indonesian culture to timor. East timor truth commission report uses declassified u. East timor is bounded by the timor sea to the southeast, the wetar strait to the north, the ombai strait to the northwest, and western timor part of the indonesian province of east nusa tenggara to the southwest. Australia links site search document search contact the court history members of the court. It is a history bound up in the arbitral dispute that timorleste instituted on april 23, 20, in. Australias history with east timor isnt pretty but it.
The documents confirm what was obvious from the public actions and statements of then alp prime minister gough whitlam. We present here a guide to the full set of tweedies timor images from september 1975. Freedom of the press 2014 pdf, 20 pdf, 2012 pdf, 2011 pdf human rights watch. Political dynamics, development, and international involvement congressional research service 6 n may 20, 2002, the democratic republic of east timor timorleste gained its independence, and on september 27, it became the 191st member of the united nations. National history remains an important concern of east timorese public life. The united nations and selfdetermination in the case of. Acts and documents concerning the organization of the court.
The portuguese began to trade with timor by the early. Australia links site search document search contact the court history. Timor archives clearing house for archival records on. According to indonesian documents that fretilin forces captured in 1982. With 189 member countries, staff from more than 170 countries, and offices in over locations, the world bank group is a unique global partnership. Cidac in lisbon has digitised and made publicly available thousands of timor archival documents. The national library of australia now holds the original tweedie photograph collection. After indonesia, east timors closest neighbor is australia, 400 mi to the south. Fourteen years later, in 1974, portugal sought to establish a provisional government and a popular. It occupies the eastern half of the island of timor, the small nearby islands of atauro kambing and jaco, and the enclave of ambeno, including the town of pante makasar, on the northwestern coast of timor.
Annex a brief history of east timor east timor human development report 2002 anthropological investigations indicate that the first people to arrive in timor, approximately 40,000 to 20,000 years bc, were of the vedoaustraloide type, similar to the vedas of ceylon. Police violence and the beginnings of impunity in east timor april 2006 pdf forced expulsions to west timor and the refugee crisis. Australia let indonesia invade east timor in 1975 world. Jun 19, 2017 of course there were many incidents that accompanied east timor while still joining indonesia, including various means against the indonesian military, to a referendum that resulted in independence. It occupies the eastern half of the island of timor, the small nearby islands of atauro and jaco, and the enclave of ambeno. It aims to assist east timorese and indonesian official and nongovernmental efforts to. Also contains film guides, curriculum materials, links and programs. East timor revisited the national security archive. Between 1945 and june 1974, the indonesian government, in compliance with international law, affirmed at the united nations and to the outside world that it had no territorial ambitions towards east timor.
Xanana gusmao was appointed presidentelect of east timor mr. East timors constituent assembly signed into force the territorys first constitution on 22 march 2002 and following presidential elections on 14 april, mr. Prime minister john howards coalition government has released foreign affairs documents relating to the 197476 period in a cynical ploy to use australian peoples outrage at the 1975 invasion and occupation of east timor to score points against the opposition labor party. Amnesty international estimates that 200,000 died from military action, starvation or disease from 19751999. East timors turbulent history, along with the flaws in the. The khmer rouge subjected these groups to an especiall y harsh and. War, genocide, and resistance in east timor, 19751999 201 03263 ch 09 71503 10.
Since 2002, the national security archives indonesia east timor documentation project has sought to identify and seek release of thousands of secret u. Of course there were many incidents that accompanied east timor while still joining indonesia, including various means against the indonesian military, to a referendum that resulted in independence. It documents a litany of massacres, thousands of summary executions of civilians. This chapter examines visions of timorlestes future that emerged following three critical junctures in the territorys modern history the. A second wave, which arrived around 3000 years bc, consisted of. Annex a brief history of east timor welcome to valdosta. Timor archives clearing house for archival records on timor. Documents from the ucla center for east asian studies website. The first inhabitants are thought to be descendant of australoid and melanesian peoples. Foreign relations of the united states, 19691976, volume e12, documents on east and southeast asia, 19731976. Australias relations with indonesia at stake over secret.
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