East Timor

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste or East Timor is a nation in Southeast Asia, consisting of the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecussi-Ambeno, an exclave of East Timor situated on the western side of the island, surrounded by West Timor.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of East Timor

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The people of East Timor, known collectively as the Maubere, an originally derogatory name turned into a name of pride by the resistance movement, consist of a number of distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are of Malayo-Polynesian descent and some of older Papuan stock. There is also a small ethnic Chinese minority. In common with other former Portuguese colonies, where intermarriage between races was widely accepted, there are also small numbers of mixed-race people, known in Portuguese as Mestiço. The best-known East Timorese Mestiço internationally is José Ramos Horta, spokesman for the resistance movement in exile, now Foreign Minister. Mário Viegas Carrascalão, Indonesia's appointed governor between 1987 and 1992, is also Mestiço.

Related Topics:
Malayo-Polynesian - Papua - Ethnic Chinese - Mestiço - José Ramos Horta - Mário Viegas Carrascalão - 1987 - 1992

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The population is predominantly Roman Catholic (90%), with sizable Muslim (5%) and Protestant (3%) minorities. Smaller Hindu, Buddhist and animist minorities make up the remainder. Currently, there are about a million citizens of East Timor.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic - Muslim - Protestant - Hindu - Buddhist - Animist

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