TIMOR-LESTE, also known as East Timor, will soon become the newest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
This tiny island nation has one of the youngest population in Asia.
If it becomes a full-fledged member, Timor Leste would be the 11th member of Asean, one of the most dynamic economic blocs in the world.
Timor-Leste foreign minister makes history
Timor-Leste’s Foreign Minister Adaljiza A.X.R. Magno joined the Asean’s back-to-back meetings in Jakarta yesterday, February 4 — the 32nd ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting and Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo welcomed Minister Magno as “she made history” in becoming the first Timorese official to attend the Asean high-level meetings.
“I conveyed the Philippines’ full support in facilitating Timor-Leste’s full ASEAN membership,” Manalo tweeted.
At the end of the conference, Minister Magno also joined the mandatory photo opp and locked arms together with 10 foreign ministers.
Timor-Leste and Indonesia
Timor-Leste used to be a province of Indonesia, which is the now the chair of Asean meetings.
Indonesia and Timor-Leste shared a bitter history. For 20 years, around 200,000 East Timorese reportedly died in fighting, massacres and forced starvation under the Indonesian rule of then President Suharto.
East Timorese pro-independence movement, backed by Western influence, gained traction that in 1999, majority voted to be freed from Indonesian control. However, Indonesian paramilitaries instigated violence. Pressured by the international community, Jakarta later relented to the giving up East Timor.
At that time, Asean was in a bind on how to deal with Indonesia, one of Asean’s founding members, amidst international condemnation of human rights violations.
As East Timor transitioned into a full-fledged sovereign state, the United Nations deployed troops to help authorities in stabilizing the peace and order. The Philippines became one of the leaders of the UN peacekeeping force.
A member in principle but…
“In principle” Timor-Leste is already Asean’s 11th member. Timorese officials can sit in meetings, including summits.
But technically, Timor-Leste is still an “observer” and needs to comply with the requirements of being a member.
“ASEAN further welcomed Timor-Leste in embracing the path of ASEAN Community Building and reiterated the mutual interests and interdependence among the peoples of ASEAN, which are bound by geography, common objectives, and shared destiny,” Indonesia said.
Where is Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is part of the Timor Island, located south of Indonesia’s archipelago. The eastern part of the island is the territory of Timor-Leste.
South of Timor-Leste is Australia.
Its capital is Dili.
The total population as of 2022 is 1.34 million.
Timor-Leste has the youngest population in Asia. The median age of the population is 19. Around 37 percent of its population is age 14 years old and below.
Just like the Philippines, majority of East Timor’s population is Catholic, being colonized once by the Portuguese.
The country is tiny at 14,874 square kilometers — a little bit bigger than our Ilocos Region –making one of the smallest countries in Asia.
It is rich in offshore hydrocarbon deposits and marble.
Asean members
In case you forget your geography or history, Asean is a regional grouping among southeast Asian countries.
The Philippines is a member of Asean. The other members are:
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Thailand, and
- Vietnam
Combining all the people from this 10 countries, Asean has 662 million population. The total GDP of these 10 countries is US$3.2 trillion, making it one of the economic powerhouse in the world and one of the most successful inter-government organization among developing countries.
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand formed this group in 1967, to contain the spread of communism. Now, its envisions to sustain peace and stability in the region and form a single market and production base.
