Timor-Leste or East Temor as it is situated in the east of a series of Island in south -east Asia, officially known as Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. It is one of the poorest countries of the world with US $ 430, according as the measurement of Nationa Average per Capita Income, using Atlas method est.2003. Its rank from the top is 173 and from the bottom is 34th. In other methods of measurement as IMF,WB and CIA of est 2007,2007 and 2008 respectively.Rank/est***Rank/est****rank/est
157/450***157/371****164/423.
It is small country with area less than that of Naga Land. It consists of three parts, the major one is the eastern half of the island Timor, the other two samll parts are i) Atauroand Jaco, and ii)Oecussi-Ambeno.
The name Timor means east, east of Indonesia and Malay. Originally, three waves of migration took place in Timor-Leste. First from New Guinea and Australia, second from Austronesians and third from South-China and North Indochina. Portuguese were the first Europeans to come here for trade and then colonized it in 16th. century.By the mid-17th century Dutch came to the region and gained a foothold in the west of Timor. Finally they have a demarcation of territory in 1916. It was a neglected trading post and investment to infrastructue, health and education was minimal from the part of the colonist. Sandlwood was the main export crop with coffee becoming significantly in the 19th century. As a colonisl Portuguese was brutal and exploitative.
In late 1941, Dutch and Australian troops in an attempt to preempt a Japanese invasion occuppied a portion of the island. But the Portuguese Govt. forced the Dutch troops to go to the west and the Japanese landed and drove the Australian forces out of Dili. A battle known as Battle of Timor started in the mountaineous region with the guerrillasof Timorese volunteers and Allied forces resulting 40,000 to 70,000 casualities. Portuguses control was re-instated after the defeat of Japan in the WWII.