Timor Timur

Timor Timur
Province of Indonesia[1]

1976–1999

Flag

Capital Dili
2°11′N 102°23′E / 2.183°N 102.383°ECoordinates: 2°11′N 102°23′E / 2.183°N 102.383°E
Governor
 - 19761978 Arnaldo dos Reis Araújo
 - 19921999 José Abílio Osório Soares
History
 - Established 17 July 1976
 - Disestablished 1999

Timor Timur (or Tim Tim) was the official name of present-day East Timor during its occupation by Indonesia between 1975 and 1999. The occupation was not internationally recognised.

Background

Timorese women with the Indonesian national flag

The colony of Portuguese Timor declared its independence on 28 November 1975, calling itself Timor-Leste (Portuguese: "East Timor"). Nine days later, Indonesia began the invasion of its main territory. Indonesia declared the accession of Timor-Leste on 17 July 1976 as 27th province and changed its official name to "Timor Timur", the Indonesian translation of "East Timor". The use of Portuguese was then forbidden, as it was seen as relic of colonization.

The Indonesians left in 1999 and Timor Timur 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". The only other official translation is Timor Loro'sae, which is Tetum for "East Timor". This is to avoid the Indonesian term and its reminder of the Indonesian occupation.

Governors

See also

Footnotes

External links