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East Timor

Moruk (far right) farms watermelons with his friends, after turning his back on a life dealing in black market goods [CAFOD]

East Timor was the first new nation of the 21st century, gaining independence from Indonesia in May 2002

But a brutal backlash from the departing Indonesian military killed many people, destroyed roads, schools, and hospitals and left three-quarters of the population homeless

Today it remains one of the world’s poorest nations with challenges such as ensuring jobs for its people, proper management of revenues from its oil and gas, and the delivery of basic services to all.

Despite independence, civil unrest in the major cities and towns are still commonplace, while poor infrastructure continues to hamper development efforts.

CAFOD spent £200,000 in East Timor in 2008/09

We support several church and civil society partners working on agriculture, peace building and conflict resolution.

Santa Cruz Cemetery, site of the massacre of more than 200 people on a pro-independence march in 1991.

East Timor: Ten years since independence vote

On August 30, 1999 the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. A brutal backlash from the departing Indonesian military killed many people, destroyed roads, schools, and hospitals and left three-quarters of the population homeless

Change of heart bears fruit in East Timor

Meet Moruk, who turned his life around from being a black market dealer, to being a proud farmer of watermelons

Mr M. Dhanapla (on the right), a father of three from Anuradhapura, won a presidential award for the best paddy farmer. Now he has to take other jobs to make ends meet [Patrick Nicholson]

Top farmer left in poverty by unfair trade

In 1995, Mr M. Dhanapla, a father-of-three from Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, won a presidential award for the best paddy farmer. Now he has to take other jobs to make ends meet

Rice farmer Rodrigo Costanilla, father of seven, farms one hectare, rented from a land-owning family, and says rice is his livelihood [Annie Bungeroth]

Rice farmers call for trade justice

In rural areas of the Philippines, poor rice farmers struggle to make a living, as they are forced to compete with cheap, subsidised imported rice

Published on 19/12/2008, last updated on 26/10/2009

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CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales

East Timor