Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste gained independence from Indonesia on 20 May 2002 and became the first new nation of the century. But the road to independence was long and traumatic. At least 100,000 Timorese died as a result of Indonesia’s 25-year occupation. When Indonesia finally agreed in 1999 to let the Timorese choose between independence and local autonomy the results showed an overwhelming support for independence. Indonesian militia went on a rampage, murdering hundreds of people and reducing towns to ruins.

An international peacekeeping force halted the mayhem and a UN mission started to rebuild Timor-Leste. The UN mission was a success and it concluded in May 2005. But gang violence broke out in Dili, the country’s capital, in 2006 and the UN Security Council set up a new peacekeeping force.

The civil unrest disrupted the lives of thousands of Timorese children forcing many families to flee their homes. Those displaced by the violence moved to hastily erected camps and shelters. The UN said that poverty and unemployment had exacerbated the unrest.

Timor-Leste is one of Asia's poorest countries and will rely on outside help for many years. The infrastructure is poor and the country is prone to drought.

The country is trying to foster national reconciliation. Indonesia and Timor-Leste set up bodies to bring the perpetrators of the 1999 violence to justice. However a UN report in 2005 concluded that the systems had failed to deliver.