- published: 23 Jan 2015
- views: 46987
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (tiˈmɔr ˈlɛʃteɪ), commonly known as East Timor i/ˌiːst ˈtiːmɔr/ (Tetum: Timór Lorosa'e, Portuguese: Timor-Leste), is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor. The small country of 15,410 km² (5,400 sq mi) is located about 640 km (400 mi) northwest of Darwin, Australia.
East Timor was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, and was known as Portuguese Timor until Portugal's decolonization of the country. In late 1975, East Timor declared its independence, but later that year was invaded and occupied by Indonesia and was declared Indonesia's 27th province the following year. In 1999, following the United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory and East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on May 20, 2002. East Timor is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being the Philippines.
Sandalwood trees are evergreen
Cut them down
Plant coffee beans
Build no schools
Construct no roads
Mark them as fools
Let ignorance rule
Leave them stranded on their island
Treat them to the tune of silence
Red is the cross that covers out shame
Every Kingdom, every land
Has it's heart in the common man
Silently the tide shifts the sand
Bury my heart on East-Timor
In coral sands
On golden shores
Buried are those
Who lived their lives
No place to hide for
Father and child
Leave them stranded on their island
Treat them to the tune of silence
We shake the hands that kill and forgive
Every Kingdom, every land
Has its heart in the common man
Silently the tide shifts the sand
Bury my heart on East-Timor
On barren graves
Where flowers won't grow
Blooms our Red cross lovingly
This nightingale deed
So we can be free
Stranded on their island
This army of the silent
We toast our own goodwill and forget
Every kingdom, every land
Has its heart in the common man