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NAVIGATION
Independent Republic of East Timor
East Timor Leste
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
conventional short form: East Timor local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese] former: Portuguese Timor local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese] |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Dili |
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Administrative divisions:
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13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque |
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Independence:
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28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 28 November (1975) |
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Constitution:
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22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model) |
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Legal system:
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NA |
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Suffrage:
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17 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation
head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002) cabinet: Council of State elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do Amaral 17.3% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis
elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Pary or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or TRABALHISTA [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida Santos COSTA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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IBRD, IMF
note: UN membership is expected in September |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Jose Luis GUTERRES
chancery: NA consulate(s) general: NA FAX: NA telephone: NA |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
embassy: Avenido do Portugal, Farol, Dili mailing address: NA telephone: (670) 390 324 684 FAX: (670) 390 313 206 |
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Flag description:
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red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of the black triangle |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the next three years, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By mid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term project would be development of oil resources in nearby waters. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $415 million (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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18% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 25%
industry: 17% services: 57% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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42% (2002 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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38 |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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NA% |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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50% (including underemployment) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA |
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Industries:
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printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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8.5% |
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla |
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Exports:
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$8 million (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports |
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Exports - partners:
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NA |
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Imports:
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$237 million (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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NA |
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Imports - partners:
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NA |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$2.2 billion |
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Currency:
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US dollar (USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June |