October 22, 2001
East Timor's newly elected assembly on Monday asked the United Nations to grant it full independence on May 20 next year.
The 88-member body, which is acting as a parliament-in-waiting, voted overwhelmingly for the date, which is the anniversary of the formation of the territory's largest party, Fretilin.
Assembly president Francisco Guterres said he hoped the recommendation would be endorsed by the U.N. Security Council in New York later this month.
"I today presented a resolution containing the constituent assembly's recommendation on the date to be set for the official transfer of the powers of sovereignty," Guterres said.
East Timor was occupied by Indonesia in 1975 after almost 400 years of colonization by Portugal.
In 1999, it voted overwhelmingly for independence in a U.N.-sponsored referendum. A rampage by the Indonesian military and local militiamen killed hundreds and left much of the territory in ruins. It ended only when international peacekeepers arrived.
East Timor is currently being administered by the United Nations. The assembly, which was elected on Aug. 30 and convened on Sept. 15, advises the world body on policy matters.
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