Portugal
Primary Source: The difference between Dutch colonies in the Indies and Portuguese colonies in the Indies:
The great naturalist, scientist and geographer Alfred Russel Wallace wrote in 1861:
'the Portuguese government in Timor is a most miserable one. Nobody seems to care the least about the improvement of the country, and at this time, after three hundred years of occupation, there has not been a mile of road made beyond the town, and there is not a solitary European resident anywhere in the interior.' As for Dili, it was 'a most miserable place compared with even the poorest of the Dutch towns… and there is no sign of cultivation or civilisation round about it.'
The great naturalist, scientist and geographer Alfred Russel Wallace wrote in 1861:
'the Portuguese government in Timor is a most miserable one. Nobody seems to care the least about the improvement of the country, and at this time, after three hundred years of occupation, there has not been a mile of road made beyond the town, and there is not a solitary European resident anywhere in the interior.' As for Dili, it was 'a most miserable place compared with even the poorest of the Dutch towns… and there is no sign of cultivation or civilisation round about it.'
TIME LINE:
17th C - Portugal claims East Timor as a trading port.
1910 - Portuguese monarchy are deposed
1926-1974 - Country ruled by dictatorship - Estado Novo regime
1974 - Carnation Revolution and withdrawal of Portugal from its colonies
1991 - Dili Massacres gain sympathy and support from the Portuguese
1995- Portgual takes Australia to international court over its recognition of Indonesia as having sovereignty over East Timor
1999 - Portugal and Indonesia agree to transfer authority of East Timor to the United Nations
17th C - Portugal claims East Timor as a trading port.
1910 - Portuguese monarchy are deposed
1926-1974 - Country ruled by dictatorship - Estado Novo regime
1974 - Carnation Revolution and withdrawal of Portugal from its colonies
1991 - Dili Massacres gain sympathy and support from the Portuguese
1995- Portgual takes Australia to international court over its recognition of Indonesia as having sovereignty over East Timor
1999 - Portugal and Indonesia agree to transfer authority of East Timor to the United Nations
The history of Portugal, a European nation, dates back to
the Early Middle Ages. In the 15th and 16th
centuries, it ascended to the status of a world power during Europe's "Age of Discovery" as it built up a vast empire including possessions
in South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Over the following
two centuries, Portugal kept most of its colonies but gradually lost much of its
wealth and status as the Dutch, English and French took an increasing share of
the spice and slave trades, by surrounding or
conquering the widely scattered Portuguese trading posts and territories,
leaving it with ever fewer resources to defend its overseas interests. (Source, Wikipedia, History of Portugal)
In 1910, there was a revolution that deposed the Portuguese monarchy. Amid corruption, repression of the church, and the near bankruptcy of the state, a military coup in 1926 installed a dictatorship that remained until another coup in 1974. The new government instituted sweeping democratic reforms and granted independence to all of Portugal's African colonies in 1975. (Source, Wikipedia, History of Portugal)
History of Portugal in East Timor:
Portugal have had a commercial interest in East Timor since the 17thC. This commercial interest in the islands on the Indonesian archipelago
was also observed by the Dutch, whom would strategically take by possession the western half of Timor and then seek to have that internationally
recognised. In 1859, Portugal and the Netherlands signed a treaty demarcating a boundary, which was finally settled in 1914 following a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.
Up until 1999, East Timor is still internationally recognised as part of Portugal's jurisdiction. In order to settle the dispute the political status of East Timor, the United Nations embarked systematically and diplomatically for several years (1982-1999) to resolve the issue. By 1999 the United Nations had managed to achieve a series of important diplomatic moves that pressured Indonesia into agreeing to a popular consultation about integration (this is the referendum). When riots pursue between the pro-Indonesian activists and the Indonesian military against pro-independence supporters, the UN seeks two outcomes; international assistance (force) to protect the UN's mission in East Timor and restore peace and secondly for Portugal and Indonesia to transfer its authority for East Timor to the UN so that it can help it develop peaceful independence through the establishment of political and social institutions that will help the nation develop.
Importantly, Portugal is recognised internationally as having authority over East Timor in 1995 in a legal claim it makes against Australia. The claim is against Australia's recognition of Indonesia as having authority over East Timor's resources. This recognition refers to Australia's ongoing negotiations with Indonesia over a gas treaty called the East Timor Gap Treaty in 1989. In 1995 Portugal with some factions inside Australia would mount an international legal case against Australia for violating International conventions by recognising Indonesia as having sovereignty over East Timor's resources. The case is attached in the contents page.
In 1910, there was a revolution that deposed the Portuguese monarchy. Amid corruption, repression of the church, and the near bankruptcy of the state, a military coup in 1926 installed a dictatorship that remained until another coup in 1974. The new government instituted sweeping democratic reforms and granted independence to all of Portugal's African colonies in 1975. (Source, Wikipedia, History of Portugal)
History of Portugal in East Timor:
Portugal have had a commercial interest in East Timor since the 17thC. This commercial interest in the islands on the Indonesian archipelago
was also observed by the Dutch, whom would strategically take by possession the western half of Timor and then seek to have that internationally
recognised. In 1859, Portugal and the Netherlands signed a treaty demarcating a boundary, which was finally settled in 1914 following a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.
Up until 1999, East Timor is still internationally recognised as part of Portugal's jurisdiction. In order to settle the dispute the political status of East Timor, the United Nations embarked systematically and diplomatically for several years (1982-1999) to resolve the issue. By 1999 the United Nations had managed to achieve a series of important diplomatic moves that pressured Indonesia into agreeing to a popular consultation about integration (this is the referendum). When riots pursue between the pro-Indonesian activists and the Indonesian military against pro-independence supporters, the UN seeks two outcomes; international assistance (force) to protect the UN's mission in East Timor and restore peace and secondly for Portugal and Indonesia to transfer its authority for East Timor to the UN so that it can help it develop peaceful independence through the establishment of political and social institutions that will help the nation develop.
Importantly, Portugal is recognised internationally as having authority over East Timor in 1995 in a legal claim it makes against Australia. The claim is against Australia's recognition of Indonesia as having authority over East Timor's resources. This recognition refers to Australia's ongoing negotiations with Indonesia over a gas treaty called the East Timor Gap Treaty in 1989. In 1995 Portugal with some factions inside Australia would mount an international legal case against Australia for violating International conventions by recognising Indonesia as having sovereignty over East Timor's resources. The case is attached in the contents page.