A socio-historical essay: Traditions, indonesia, independence, and elections

Abstract

This chapter gives details on the Timorese culture and the great variety of languages. It describes East Timor’s traditions and its colonial history, the short civil war for independence in 1974-1975, and the occupation by Indonesia. Without the Timorese themselves, the United Nations, in particular, Kofi Annan, Max Stahl’s film shot in November 1991, in Dili, East Timor would not exist as an independent democratic republic. The United Nations Transitional Administration (UNTAET) was sovereign in East Timor between 2000 and 2002. This chapter gives more information about the development of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) and a reflection on its policies.