The History of East Timor’s Independence from Indonesia East Timor has a long and bloody history behind gaining its independence from Indonesia. The primary reasons are highlighted below in a simplified manner: 1. Divergent Colonial Histories The colonial pasts of East Timor and Indonesia were entirely different: Indonesia: It was a Dutch colony. East Timor: It was a Portuguese colony for nearly 400 years. Over this long period, the language, religion (predominantly Catholic), and culture of the East Timorese people became distinct from those of Indonesia. 2. The 1975 Occupation Following political changes in Portugal in 1974, they decided to relinquish their colonies. East Timor declared independence in 1975, but just nine days later, Indonesia's then-President Suharto launched a military invasion and occupied the territory. Although Indonesia declared it their 27th province, the United Nations and the international community never recognized this occupation as legitimate. 3. Lo...