The Special Security Team ( 特殊警備隊 , Tokushu-keibi-tai ) is a police tactical unit of the Japan Coast Guard , based at the Osaka Special Security Station ( 大阪特殊警備基地 ) . The acronym of its Kanji name has already been used by other units, the abbreviation "SST" is used for this team.
129-636: The 1997 Maritime Safety Agency white paper stated that the SST's mission is to deal with security incidents in maritime waters, including boarding ships and anti-terrorist operations. In 1985, the Maritime Safety Agency established the Maritime riot squad ( 関西空港海上警備隊 , Kansai-kuko Kaijō-keibi-tai , Kaikei-tai) to protect the maritime side of the Kansai International Airport cooperating with
258-569: A Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) coup attempt in August 1975, and unilaterally declared independence on 28 November 1975. Fearing a communist state within the Indonesian Archipelago, the Indonesian military launched an invasion of East Timor on 7 December 1975. Indonesia declared East Timor its 27th province on 17 July 1976. The United Nations Security Council opposed the invasion, and
387-426: A rai nain , who was generally associated with the primary sacred house of the kingdom. These polities were numerous and saw shifting alliances and relations, but many were stable enough that they survived from initial European documentation in the 16th century until the end of Portuguese rule. From perhaps the thirteenth century, the island exported sandalwood , which was valued both for its use in crafting and as
516-520: A combined road and railroad bridge, to Rinku Town and the mainland. The lower level of the bridge is used by two railroad operators: JR West and Nankai Electric Railway . JR West operates the Haruka limited express train services from Kansai Airport Station to Tennōji , Ōsaka , Shin-Ōsaka , and Kyoto Station , with Kansai Airport Rapid [ ja ] services available from Kansai Airport Station to Ōsaka , Kyōbashi and several stations on
645-458: A five-year term. The number of seats can vary from a minimum of fifty-two to a maximum of sixty-five. Parties must achieve 3% of the vote to enter parliament, with seats for qualifying parties allocated using the D'Hondt method . Elections occur within the framework of a competitive multi-party system. Upon independence, power was held by the Fretilin political party, which was formed shortly before
774-458: A government priority. In addition to climate change, local ecosystems are threatened by deforestation, land degradation, overfishing, and pollution. East Timor's fauna is diverse and contains a number of endemic and threatened species. The Timor and Wetar deciduous forests region, which covers the entire island, has 38 mammal species. East Timor's two endemic mammal species are the Timor shrew and
903-521: A hotel complex. The airport is only accessible from the Sky Gate Bridge R, a part of Kansai Airport Expressway. The expressway immediately connects to Hanshin Expressways Route 5, "Wangan Route", and Hanwa Expressway . In July 2007, high-speed ferry service began. OM Kobe operates "Bay Shuttle" between Kobe Airport and KIX. The journey takes about thirty minutes. East Timor This
1032-524: A minimum of 102,800 conflict-related deaths in the period between 1974 and 1999, including approximately 18,600 killings and 84,200 excess deaths from hunger and illness. The total number of conflict-related deaths during this period is difficult to determine due to a lack of data. One estimate based on Portuguese, Indonesian, and Catholic Church data suggests it may have been as high as 200,000. Repression and restrictions counteracted improvements in health and education infrastructure and services, meaning there
1161-450: A priority. Thus, in 2003, believing that the sinking problem was almost over, the airport operators started to construct a 4,000 m (13,000 ft) second runway and terminal. The second runway opened on 2 August 2007, but with the originally planned terminal portion postponed. This lowered the project cost to JPY¥ 910 billion (approx. US$ 8 billion), saving ¥650 billion from the first estimate. The additional runway development, which
1290-537: A public tender to sell the operating rights for Kansai and Itami Airport in May 2015. Orix and Vinci Airports were the sole bidders for the 45-year contract, at a price of around $ 18 billion. The new operating company, Kansai Airports , took over on 1 April 2016. It is 80% owned by Orix and Vinci, with the remaining 20% owned by Kansai-based enterprises such as Hankyu Hanshin Holdings and Panasonic . On 4 September 2018,
1419-871: A role it shares with the National Police of East Timor . These forces remain small: 2,200 soldiers in the regular army and 80 in a naval component. A single aircraft and seven patrol boats are operated, and there are plans to expand the naval component. There is some military cooperation with Australia, Portugal, and the United States. East Timor is divided into fourteen municipalities, which in turn are subdivided into 64 administrative posts, 442 sucos (villages), and 2,225 aldeias (hamlets). The municipalities are: Aileu , Ainaro , Atauro , Baucau , Bobonaro , Cova Lima , Dili , Ermera , Lautém , Liquiçá , Manatuto , Manufahi , Oecusse , and Viqueque . The existing system of municipalities and administrative posts
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#17328546357511548-571: A second general election in May 2018. In June 2018, former president and independence fighter, Taur Matan Ruak , became the new prime minister. José Ramos-Horta again became president on 20 May 2022 after winning the April 2022 presidential election runoff against Francisco Guterres. The political system of East Timor is semi-presidential , based upon the Portuguese system . The constitution establishes both this separation of executive powers between
1677-537: A single national district in a party-list system. One in three of all candidates presented by political parties must be women. This system promotes a diversity of political parties, but gives voters little influence over the individual candidates selected by each party. Women hold more than a third of parliamentary seats, with parties required by law to run female candidates, but they are less prominent at other levels and within party leadership. Political divisions exist along class lines and along geographical lines. There
1806-572: A single site in East Timor was 642 different fish species, ranking second out of surveyed sites after Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands . Additionally, the reefs appeared to have suffered limited damage from coral bleaching and rising ocean temperatures compared to other sites in the Coral Triangle. However, despite being in relatively pristine condition, the reefs remain threatened by climate change and habitat destruction, especially blast fishing. It
1935-470: A sophisticated people mover system called the Wing Shuttle , which moves passengers from one end of the pier to the other. The terminal's roof is shaped like an airfoil . This shape is used to promote air circulation through the building: giant air conditioning ducts blow air upwards at one side of the terminal, circulate the air across the curvature of the ceiling, and collect the air through intakes at
2064-546: A source of perfume. Timor was included in Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Indian trading networks by the fourteenth century, exporting sandalwood, honey, and wax. The island was recorded by the Majapahit Empire as a source of tribute. It was sandalwood that attracted European explorers to the island in the early sixteenth century. Early European presence was limited to trade, with the first Portuguese settlement being on
2193-764: A third runway (06C/24C) with a length of 3,500 m (11,483 ft), a new cargo terminal and expanding the airport size to 13 km (5 sq mi). However, the Japanese government has currently postponed these plans for economic reasons. Since July 2008, Osaka Prefecture governor Toru Hashimoto has been a vocal critic of Itami Airport , arguing that the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line will make much of its domestic role irrelevant, and that its domestic functions should be transferred to Kansai Airport in conjunction with upgraded high-speed access to Kansai from central Osaka. In 2009, Hashimoto also publicly proposed moving
2322-648: Is Timór Lorosa'e ( Lorosa'e can be literally translated as ' where the sun rises ' ). The official names under its constitution are "Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste" in English, " República Democrática de Timor-Leste " in Portuguese, and " Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste " in Tetum. The official short form of the name is "Timor-Leste", and it uses the ISO codes TLS & TL. Cultural remains at Jerimalai on
2451-425: Is a special administrative region with some autonomy. The National Police of East Timor and Timor Leste Defence Force have held a monopoly on violence since 2008 and very few guns are present outside of these organisations. While there are allegations of abuse of power, there is some judicial oversight of police and public trust in the institution has grown. An active civil society functions independently of
2580-507: Is also a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries . Continuing bilateral donors include Australia, Portugal, Germany, and Japan, and East Timor has a reputation for effectively and transparently using donor funds. Good relations with Australia and with Indonesia are a policy goal for the government, despite historical and more-recent tensions. These countries are important economic partners and provide most transport links to
2709-540: Is an accepted version of this page East Timor , also known as Timor-Leste , officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste , is a country in Southeast Asia . It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor , the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-western half, and the minor islands of Atauro and Jaco . The western half of the island of Timor is administered by Indonesia . Australia
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#17328546357512838-493: Is believed that this has most affected large marine species such as sharks; despite the diversity of the reefs, there were a significant lack of sharks recorded in the surveys of 2016. East Timor's isolation and lack of tourism are believed to have helped preserve the reefs, as opposed to tourist-heavy locales such as Bali, where the abundance of tourism has negatively affected the health of the reefs. The Timorese government and local residents of Atauro have made attempts to preserve
2967-522: Is broadly a divide between eastern and western areas of the country, stemming from differences that arose under Indonesian rule. Fretilin in particular is strongly linked to the Eastern areas. Political parties are more closely associated with prominent personalities more than with ideology. The National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction became the main opposition to Fretilin, following its establishment to allow Xanana Gusmão to run for Prime Minister in
3096-452: Is characterised by a number of coral reef systems that have been determined to be at risk. There are around 41,000 terrestrial plant species in the country. Forests covered 35% of East Timor's land in the mid-2010s. The forests of the northern coast, central uplands, and southern coast are distinct. East Timor is home to the Timor and Wetar deciduous forests ecoregion. There is some environmental protection in law, but it has not been
3225-436: Is common, with over half of children showing stunted growth . While 91% of married working age (15–49) men were employed as of 2016, only 43% of married working age women were. There are small disparities in favour of men in terms of home and land ownership and owning a bank account. The eastern three municipalities, which contain around a quarter of the population, has less poverty than the western areas, which contain 50% of
3354-460: Is derived from timur , meaning ' east ' in Malay , thus resulting in a tautological place name meaning ' East East ' . In Indonesian , this results in the name Timor Timur (the name of the former de facto Indonesian province ; Timor Leste is used instead to refer to the country). In Portuguese, the country is called Timor-Leste ( Leste meaning ' east ' ). In Tetum , it
3483-425: Is high, ranging from around 70% to 85%. The political system has wide public acceptance. The head of state of East Timor is the president of the republic , who is elected by popular vote for a five-year term, and can serve a maximum of two terms. Formally, the directly elected president holds relatively limited powers compared to those in similar systems, with no power over the appointment and dismissal of
3612-431: Is now the smallest). The bidding and construction of the airport was a source of international trade friction during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone responded to American concerns, particularly from Senator Frank Murkowski , that bids would be rigged in Japanese companies' favour by providing special offices for prospective international contractors, which ultimately did little to ease
3741-503: Is over 1.34 million at the 2022 census, and is heavily skewed towards young people due to a high fertility rate. Education has led to increasing literacy over the past half-century, especially in the two official languages of Portuguese and Tetum . High ethnic and linguistic diversity is reflected by the 30 indigenous languages spoken in the country. The majority of the population is Catholic , which coexists alongside strong local traditions and beliefs, especially in rural areas. "Timor"
3870-454: Is poor. The capital and largest city is Dili. The second-largest city is the eastern town of Baucau . The climate is tropical with relatively stable temperatures throughout the year. A wet season lasts from December to May throughout the country, and lasts slightly longer in the south and the interior due to the effect of a monsoon from Australia. During this period, rainfall can reach 222–252 millimetres (8.7–9.9 in) per month. In
3999-601: Is specified by Articles 5 and 71 of the 2002 constitution to be governed by a special administrative policy and economic regime. Law 3/2014 of 18 June 2014 implemented this constitutional provision, which went into effect in January 2015, turning Oecusse into a Special Administrative Region. The region began operating its own civil service in June 2015. In January 2022 the island of Atauro , formerly an Administrative Post of Dili, became its own municipality. Due to its small population, which
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4128-462: Is strongly affected by government spending. Growth has been slow, averaging just 2.5% per year from 2011 to 2021. Most of the country is very poor, with just more than 40% living under the national poverty line. This poverty is especially prevalent in rural areas, where many are subsistence farmers or fishermen. Even in urban areas, the majority are poor. Overall, women are poorer than men, often being employed in lower-paying careers. Malnutrition
4257-496: Is the country's southern neighbour, separated by the Timor Sea . The country's size is 14,950 square kilometres (5,770 sq mi). Dili , on the north coast of Timor, is its capital and largest city. Timor was settled by Papuan and Austronesian peoples, which are reflected in the country's diverse mix of cultures and languages, displaying links to Southeast Asia and Melanesia . East Timor came under Portuguese influence in
4386-719: Is the primary international airport in the Greater Osaka Area of Japan and the closest international airport to the cities of Osaka , Kyoto , and Kobe . It is located on an artificial island (Kankūjima ( 関空島 ) ) in the middle of Osaka Bay off the Honshu shore, 38 km (24 mi) southwest of Ōsaka Station , located within three municipalities, including Izumisano (north), Sennan (south), and Tajiri (central), in Osaka Prefecture . The airport's first airport island covers approximately 510 hectares (1,260 acres) and
4515-663: The Coral Triangle biodiversity hotspot. The easternmost area of East Timor consists of the Paitchau Range and the Lake Ira Lalaro area, which contains the country's first conservation area, the Nino Konis Santana National Park . It contains the last remaining tropical dry forested area within the country. It hosts a number of unique plant and animal species and is sparsely populated. The northern coast
4644-754: The GSDF Ranger Course at Fuji School , maritime counter-terrorism operations was an unknown field even for Rangers, so the MSA officers had no choice but to conduct trial and error by themselves about how to apply those techniques in maritime operations. In 1991, Kaikei-tai got an opportunity to invite combat advisers from the United States Navy SEALs under the financial support of the Sasakawa Foundation and with their instructions, its techniques and tactics were improved to international standards. At
4773-480: The Greater Tokyo Area . By flying to Kansai from Haneda Airport and connecting to international flights there, travelers can save the additional time required to get to Narita: up to one and a half hours for many residents of Kanagawa Prefecture and southern Tokyo. The airport was at its limit during peak times, owing especially to freight flights, so a portion of Phase II expansion—the second runway—was made
4902-692: The Iris lorikeet , S. i. rubripileum . Along with the Solomon Islands , Papua New Guinea , the Philippines , Indonesia , Malaysia and Australia , East Timor is one of the countries located in the Coral Triangle , the site of the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world. In particular, Atauro Island 's coral reefs have been recognized as having the highest average fish biodiversity of any site surveyed, with reef sites off Atauro carrying an average of 253 different species. The highest number of species recorded from
5031-674: The Timorese horseshoe bat . The country's and region's largest mammal, the Javan rusa , and its only native marsupial, the Northern common cuscus , are both believed to have been introduced to the island in prehistoric times by settlers from the Lesser Sunda Islands and New Guinea , respectively. Other mammals found in East Timor include the Crab-eating macaque , a large number of species of bats, and
5160-514: The United States dollar , producing its own coins to facilitate smaller transactions. The economy is generally open to foreign investment, although a prohibition on foreigners owning land means many require a local partner in the country. Competition is limited by the small size of the economy, rather than any government barriers. There are far more imports than exports, and prices for goods are often higher than in nearby countries. Inflation
5289-464: The resignation of Indonesian President Suharto , the new President BJ Habibie , prompted by a letter from Australian Prime Minister John Howard , decided to hold a referendum on independence. A UN-sponsored agreement between Indonesia and Portugal allowed for a UN-supervised popular referendum in August 1999. A clear vote for independence was met with a punitive campaign of violence by East Timorese pro-integration militias supported by elements of
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5418-436: The sucos are the level of government that is linked to community identities, rather than any high level of administration. Such relationships, however, are associated specifically with the kinship groups within that land, rather than the land itself. Relationships between sucos also reflect customary practices, for example through the reciprocal exchanging of support for local initiatives. Laws passed in 2004 provided for
5547-417: The 2007 parliamentary elections . While both major parties have been relatively stable, they remain led by an "old guard" of individuals who came to prominence during the resistance against Indonesia. Politics and administration is centred in the capital Dili , with the national government responsible for most civil services. Oecusse , separated from the rest of the country by Indonesian territory,
5676-454: The 30-or-40-metre (100 or 130 ft) layer of earth over the sea floor and inside the sea wall. In 1990, a three-kilometre (1.9 mi) bridge was completed to connect the island to the mainland at Rinku Town , at a cost of $ 1 billion. Completion of the artificial island increased the area of Osaka Prefecture just enough so that it is no longer the smallest prefecture in Japan ( Kagawa Prefecture
5805-537: The East China Sea near Okinawan waters after British officers were attacked by Filipino crewmembers during a riot. All of the arrested crew members were then taken into custody. In 1992, the Keijou-tai was deployed on board to guard ships carrying nuclear waste from France all the way to Japan, protecting them from any sort of staged attacks from any radical anti-nuclear activist groups. In 1999, patrol vessel Mizuho
5934-561: The Hub in 2014. In 2019, 31.9 million passengers used the airport, making it the third busiest in Japan . The freight volume was 802,162 tonnes total: 757,414 t international (18th in the world) and 44,748 t domestic. The 4,000 m × 60 m (13,120 ft × 200 ft) second runway was opened on 2 August 2007. As of June 2014 , Kansai Airport has become an Asian hub, with 780 weekly flights to Asia and Australasia (including 119 freight), 59 weekly flights to Europe and
6063-505: The Indonesian invasion and led its resistance. Given its history, Fretilin viewed itself as the natural party of government and supported a multi-party system, expecting the development of a dominant-party system . Support from the United Nations and the international community, both before and after independence, allowed the nascent political system to survive shocks such as the 2006 crisis . Candidates in parliamentary elections run in
6192-591: The Indonesian military. In response, the Indonesian government allowed a multinational peacekeeping force, INTERFET , to restore order and aid East Timorese refugees and internally displaced persons. On 25 October 1999, the administration of East Timor was taken over by the UN through the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). INTERFET deployment ended in February 2000 with
6321-537: The Itami and Kansai airport authorities was completed in July 2012. Shortly following the merger, Kansai Airport announced a 5% reduction in landing fees effective October 2012, with additional reductions during overnight hours when the airport is underutilized, and further discounts planned for the future, including subsidies for new airlines and routes. As of October 2012 these moves were intended to bring Kansai's fees closer to
6450-655: The Kansai International Airport, and able to be deployed nationwide by Saab 340 B and Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma of the Japan Coast Guard. Members at the time of the establishment of Kaikei-tai were mainly scouted from Tokkei-tai. After establishing the structure as SST, it is recruiting personnel from the entire Japan Coast Guard. Because it was the first counter-terrorism unit for MSA, Kaikei-tai faced considerable difficulties. However basic close quarters combat and marksman techniques were acquired in
6579-644: The Middle East (5 freight), and 80 weekly flights to North America (42 freight). In 2020, Kansai was ranked the tenth-best airport in the world by Skytrax and received its awards for Best Airport Staff in Asia, World's Best Airport Staff, and World's Best Airport for Baggage Delivery. In the 1960s, when the Kansai region was rapidly losing trade to Tokyo, planners proposed a new airport near Kobe and Osaka. The city's original international airport, Itami Airport , located in
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#17328546357516708-402: The UN handed over operational control of the police force to the East Timor authorities. The United Nations ended its peacekeeping mission on 31 December 2012. Francisco Guterres of the centre-left Fretilin party became president in May 2017. The leader of Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri , formed a coalition government after the July 2017 parliamentary election. This government soon fell, leading to
6837-528: The aircraft. Terminal 2 is not directly connected to Terminal 1 or to Kansai Airport Station . Free shuttle buses run between the two terminals, and between Terminal 2 and the railway and ferry stations. It is also possible to walk between the terminals through the KIX Sora Park, a four-hectare park located adjacent to Terminal 2. Kansai International Airport is connected only by the Sky Gate Bridge R ,
6966-420: The airport offshore. The new airport was part of a number of new developments to revitalize Osaka, which had been losing economic and cultural ground to Tokyo for most of the century. Initially, the airport was planned to be built near Kobe, but the city of Kobe refused the plan, so the airport was moved to a more southerly location on Osaka Bay. There it could be open 24 hours per day, unlike its predecessor in
7095-494: The airport was expected to increase competition between Japan's international airports. Despite this, passenger totals were up 11% in 2005 over 2004, and international passengers increased to 3.06 million in 2006, up 10% over 2005. Adding to the competition were the opening of Kobe Airport, less than 25 km (16 mi) away, in 2006 and the lengthening of the runway at Tokushima Airport in Shikoku in 2007. The main rationale behind
7224-489: The airport was hit by Typhoon Jebi . The airport had to pause operations after seawater surges inundated the island; runways were hit, and the water reached up to the engines of some aircraft. The situation was further exacerbated when a large tanker crashed into the bridge that links the airport to the mainland, effectively stranding the people remaining at the airport. All flights at the airport were canceled until 6 September, at which date Prime Minister Shinzō Abe announced
7353-464: The airport would partially resume domestic operations. Train services to the airport resumed from 18 September 2018 after repair works to the Kansai Airport Line and Nankai Airport Line were completed, and the airport resumed regular operations on 1 October 2018. Repairs to the damaged section of the Sky Gate Bridge R were finally completed on 8 April 2019, restoring traffic both to and from
7482-499: The aquatic mammal, the Dugong . East Timor also has its own native horse breed, the Timor pony . East Timor's terrestrial biodiversity is most visible in its native bird species. As of 2022, a total of 289 bird species are found in East Timor. Significantly threatened bird species include the endangered Timor green pigeon and Wetar ground dove and the critically endangered Yellow-crested cockatoo . East Timor has an endemic subspecies of
7611-516: The beginning, the Kaikei-tai used Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolvers as its main sidearm, equipped with 4-inch barrels. They were later seen using the Smith & Wesson Model 5906 . In 1987, Howa Type 64 designated marksman rifles and Howa M1500 sniper rifles were issued to the Kaikei-tai. In 1988, Heckler & Koch MP5 A5/SD6 submachine guns were adopted. American advisers, while admiring
7740-638: The boundary region between Asia and Oceania, along with the Lesser Sundas, Sulawesi , and the Maluku Islands . The island is surrounded by the Ombai and Wetar Straits of the rougher Banda Sea in the north, and the calmer Timor Sea in the south. East Timor shares the island with Indonesia, with Indonesian territory separating the Oecusse exclave from the rest of the country. The island of Atauro lies north of
7869-603: The build-up to the mid-year presidential elections , the process was peaceful overall and José Ramos-Horta was elected president. In June 2007, Gusmão ran in the parliamentary elections and became prime minister at the head of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party. In February 2008, Ramos-Horta was critically injured in an attempted assassination ; Prime Minister Gusmão also faced gunfire separately but escaped unharmed. Australian reinforcements were immediately sent to help keep order. In March 2011,
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#17328546357517998-481: The capital of Dili are on average better off, although they remain poor by international standards. The small size of the private sector means the government is often the customer of public businesses. A quarter of the national population works in the informal economy , with the official public and private sectors employing 9% each. Of those of working age, around 23% are in the formal sector , 21% are students, and 27% are subsistence farmers and fishers. The economy
8127-454: The city. An artificial island, 4 km ( 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 mi) long and 2.5 km ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 mi) wide, was proposed. Engineers needed to overcome the extremely high risks of earthquakes and typhoons (with storm surges of up to 3 m or 10 ft). The water depth is 18 metres (59 ft) on top of 20 metres (66 ft) of soft Holocene clay which holds 70% water. A million sand drains were built into
8256-429: The civil administration. In the end, the existing districts were kept and renamed municipalities in 2009, and received very few powers. In 2016 changes were made so that each municipality is led by a civil servant appointed by the central government. This civil servant is advised by locally elected leaders. The isolated Oecusse municipality, which has a strong identity and is fully surrounded by Indonesian territory,
8385-435: The clay to remove water and solidify the clay. Construction started in 1987. The sea wall was finished in 1989 (made of rock and 48,000 tetrapods ). Three mountains were excavated for 21 million cubic metres (27 million cubic yards), and 180 million cubic metres (240 million cubic yards) was used to construct island 1. Over three years, 10,000 workers using 80 ships took 10 million man-hours to complete
8514-412: The construction of Hong Kong International Airport . In 1991, the terminal construction commenced. To compensate for the sinking of the island, adjustable columns were designed to support the terminal building. These are extended by inserting thick metal plates at their bases. Government officials proposed reducing the length of the terminal to cut costs, but architect Renzo Piano insisted on keeping
8643-463: The council of ministers, also holds some formal legislative powers. The judiciary operates independently, although there are instances of executive interference. Some courts shift between locations, to improve access for those in more isolated areas. Despite political rhetoric, the constitution and democratic institutions have been followed by politicians, and changes of government are peaceful. Elections are run by an independent body, and turnout
8772-746: The country from 1999. The final one, the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor , began after the 2006 East Timorese crisis and concluded in 2012. East Timor formally applied to join ASEAN in 2011, and was granted observer status and accepted "in principle" in November 2022. Despite the nationalist political leadership promoting closer ties with Melanesian states, the country has targeted ASEAN membership since before its independence, with its leaders stating that joining Pacific bodies would have precluded ASEAN membership. ASEAN membership
8901-495: The country. China has also increased its presence by contributing to infrastructure in Dili. The relationship with Australia was dominated from before independence by disputes over natural resources in the ocean between them , hampering the establishment of a mutually agreed border. The dominance of Australian hard power led East Timor to utilise public diplomacy and forums for international law to push their case. The dispute
9030-408: The densely populated suburbs of Itami and Toyonaka , was surrounded by buildings; it could not be expanded, and many of its neighbours had filed complaints because of noise pollution problems. After the protests surrounding New Tokyo International Airport (now Narita International Airport ), which was built with expropriated land in a rural part of Chiba Prefecture , planners decided to build
9159-476: The dry season, it drops to 12–18 millimetres (0.47–0.71 in). The country is vulnerable to flooding and landslides that occur as a result of heavy rain, especially when rainfall levels are increased by the La Niña effect. The mountainous interior is cooler than the coasts. Coastal areas are heavily dependent on groundwater , which faces pressure from mismanagement, deforestation , and climate change . While
9288-543: The early years of the airport's operation, excessive terminal rent and utility bills for on-site concessions also drove up operating costs: some estimates before opening held that a cup of coffee would have to cost US$ 10. Osaka business owners pressed the government to take a greater burden of the construction cost to keep the airport attractive to passengers and airlines. On 17 February 2005, Chubu Centrair International Airport opened in Nagoya , just east of Osaka. The opening of
9417-501: The eastern tip of East Timor have been dated to 42,000 years ago. The first known inhabitants are those who arrived during the Australo-Melanesian migration through the region, likely bringing the precursors to today's Papuan languages . A later migration of Austroasiatic -speakers is suspected, although no such languages remain. The arrival of Austronesian peoples brought new languages , and merged with existing cultures on
9546-515: The election of some suco officials, but assigned these positions no formal powers. An updated law in 2009 established the expected mandate of these positions, although it continued to leave them outside of the formal state system, reliant on municipal governments to provide formal administration and services. Further clarification was given in 2016, which entrenched the treatment of sucos and aldeias more as communities than formal levels of administration. Despite this lack of formal association with
9675-562: The end of World War II. Portugal began investment in the colony in the 1950s, funding education and promoting coffee exports, but the economy did not improve substantially and infrastructure improvements were limited. Yearly growth rates remained low, near 2%. Following the 1974 Portuguese revolution , Portugal effectively abandoned its colony in Timor, and civil war between East Timorese political parties broke out in 1975. The Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) resisted
9804-416: The expansions was to compete with Incheon International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport as a gateway to Asia, as Tokyo area airports were severely congested. Kansai saw a 5% year-on-year increase in international traffic in summer 2013, largely supported by low-cost carrier traffic to Taiwan and Southeast Asia overcoming a decrease in traffic to China and South Korea. The airport authority
9933-465: The first new sovereign state of the 21st century. That same year, relations with Indonesia were established and normalized, with Indonesia also supporting East Timor's accession into ASEAN . The national government runs on a semi-presidential system , with the popularly elected president sharing power with a prime minister appointed by the National Parliament . Power is centralised under
10062-534: The functions of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Kansai Airport as a possible solution for the political crisis surrounding the base. In May 2011, the Diet of Japan passed legislation to form a new Kansai International Airport Corporation using the state's existing equity stake in Kansai Airport and its property holdings at Itami Airport. The move was aimed at offsetting Kansai Airport's debt burden. The merger of
10191-602: The glass in the windows remained intact. On 22 September 1998, the airport survived a typhoon with wind speeds over 60 m/s (130 mph). On 19 April 2001, the airport was one of ten structures given the "Civil Engineering Monument of the Millennium" award by the American Society of Civil Engineers . As of 2008 , the total cost of Kansai Airport was $ 20 billion including land reclamation, two runways , terminals, and facilities. Most additional costs were initially due to
10320-490: The government states is insufficient to elect a Municipal Assembly, there are plans to convert Atauro to a Special Economic Zone similar to Oecusse. Administration in the lowest levels of the administrative system of East Timor, the aldeias and sucos , generally reflects traditional customs, reflecting community identity and relationships between local households. Sucos generally contain 2,000 to 3,000 inhabitants. Their long persistence and links to local governance means
10449-486: The government, as do media outlets. Civil society organisations are concentrated in the capital, including student groups. Due to the structure of the economy, there are no powerful trade unions. The Catholic Church has strong influence in the country. International cooperation has always been important to East Timor; donor funds made up 80% of the budget before oil revenues began to replace them. International forces also provided security, with five UN missions sent to
10578-410: The international boundary between the successor states Indonesia and East Timor, respectively. For the Portuguese, East Timor remained little more than a neglected trading post, with minimal investment in infrastructure and education, until the late nineteenth century. Even when Portugal established actual control over the interior of its colony, investment remained minimal. Sandalwood continued to be
10707-399: The island had developed an interconnected series of polities governed by customary law. Small communities, centred around a particular sacred house, were part of wider sucos (or principalities), which were themselves part of larger kingdoms led by a liurai . Authority within these kingdoms was held by two individuals , with the worldly power of the liurai balanced by the spiritual power of
10836-435: The island's sinking, caused by the soft soils of Osaka Bay, which was anticipated by designers. The sink rate fell from 50 cm (20 in) per year during 1994 to 7 cm (3 in) per year in 2008. Opened on 4 September 1994, the airport serves as a hub for several airlines such as All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Nippon Cargo Airlines. It is the international gateway for Japan's Kansai region , which contains
10965-420: The island. Almost half of the country has a slope of at least 40%. The south is slightly less mountainous, and has some plains near the coastline. The highest point is Tatamailau (also known as Mount Ramelau) at 2,963 metres (9,721 ft). Most rivers dry up at least partially during the dry season. Outside of some coastal areas and river valleys, the soil is shallow and prone to erosion, and its quality
11094-542: The island. Timorese origin myths recount settlers sailing around the eastern end of the island before landing in the south. These people are sometimes noted as being from the Malay Peninsula or the Minangkabau highlands of Sumatra . Austronesian migration to Timor may be associated with the development of agriculture on the island. While information is limited about the political system of Timor during this period,
11223-545: The land-side Riot Police Unit of the Osaka Prefectural Police . At the beginning of the establishment there were only 8 members. But due to the airport construction, the unit's manpower was increased to have 24 operators. In 1990, due to the plutonium transport mission, the number of members was increased to 37 and the equipment was updated. A detachment corp for the escort mission was organized and called Onboard Security Team ( 警乗隊 , Keijou-tai ) , but after
11352-556: The level of Narita International Airport , where landing fees were around 20% lower than Kansai's, and to improve competitiveness with other Asian hubs such as Incheon International Airport in South Korea. Since its formation, the new operating company has also made efforts toward international expansion, bidding for operating concessions at Yangon International Airport and Hanthawaddy International Airport in Myanmar . KIAC conducted
11481-515: The main Terminal 1. Peach requested that Terminal 2 have a simplified design in order to minimize operating costs. The terminal is a single-story building, thus eliminating the cost of elevators . Passageways to aircraft have no air conditioning. The terminal also has no jet bridges , having one boarding gate for domestic departures and one boarding gate for international departures. In case of rain, passengers are lent umbrellas to use as they walk to
11610-496: The main export crop and coffee exports became significant in the mid-nineteenth century. At the beginning of the twentieth century, a faltering domestic economy prompted the Portuguese to extract greater wealth from its colonies, which was met with East Timorese resistance. The colony was seen as an economic burden during the Great Depression and received little support or management from Portugal. During World War II, Dili
11739-471: The main land border with Indonesia is 125 kilometres (78 mi) long, and the Oecusse land border is around 100 kilometres (62 mi) long. Maritime borders exist with Australia to the south and Indonesia elsewhere. East Timor has an exclusive economic zone of 77,051 km (29,750 sq mi). The interior of the country is mountainous, with ridges of inactive volcanic mountains extending along
11868-455: The mainland completely. The main KIX passenger terminal, Terminal 1, is a single four-storey building designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop ( Renzo Piano and Noriaki Okabe ), and has a gross floor space of 296,043 square metres (3,186,580 sq ft). As of 2018 , at a total length of 1.7 km (1.1 mi) from end to end, Terminal 1 is the longest airport terminal in the world. It has
11997-450: The mainland, with the fourth area being the small island of Jaco . The Savu Sea lies north of Oecusse. The country is about 265 kilometres (165 mi) long and 97 kilometres (60 mi) wide, with a total land area of 14,874 square kilometres (5,743 sq mi). This territory is situated between 8′15S – 10′30S latitude and 125′50E – 127′30E longitude. The country's coastline covers around 700 kilometres (430 mi), while
12126-418: The major cities of Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka. Other Kansai domestic flights fly from the older but more conveniently located Osaka International Airport in Itami, or from the newer Kobe Airport. The airport had been deeply in debt, losing $ 560 million in interest every year. Airlines had been kept away by high landing fees (about $ 7,500 for a Boeing 747 ), the second most expensive in the world after Narita's. In
12255-481: The mission ended it joined again with Kaikei-tai. In 1996, it was renamed to its current unit name. Although the strcucture is not disclosed, it is said that under command of the team leader , seven sections consisting of eight operators are organized. Specialists such as EOD and EMT are assigned for each sections. SST is based at the Osaka Special Security Station ( 大阪特殊警備基地 ) , adjacent to
12384-509: The national government, although many local leaders have informal influence. The country maintains a policy of international cooperation, and is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries , an observer of the Pacific Islands Forum , and an applicant for ASEAN membership. The country remains relatively poor, with an economy that relies heavily on natural resources, especially oil, and foreign aid. The total population
12513-490: The nearby island of Solor . Early Portuguese presence on Timor was very limited; trade was directed through Portuguese settlements on nearby islands. Only in the 17th century did they establish a more direct presence on the island, a consequence of being driven out of other islands by the Dutch. After Solor was lost in 1613, the Portuguese moved to Flores . In 1646, the capital moved to Kupang on Timor's west, before Kupang too
12642-484: The northern and southern arrival routes of Terminal 1, there are decorations of Nintendo characters like Mario , Luigi , Princess Peach , and others welcoming arriving passengers. Terminal 2 is a low-cost carrier (LCC) terminal designed to attract more LCCs by providing lower landing fees than Terminal 1. It is exclusively occupied by Peach , Spring Airlines , and Jeju Air . Other LCCs serving Kansai, such as Jetstar Airways , Jetstar Japan , and Cebu Pacific , use
12771-472: The opening of the Naniwasuji Line in 2031. Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise and other bus operators offer scheduled express bus services, called "Airport Limousines", for Kansai International Airport. Two six storey parking structures, called P1 and P2, are located above a railroad terminal station, while the other two level parking facilities, called P3 and P4, are situated next to "Aeroplaza",
12900-419: The other side. Mobiles are suspended in the ticketing hall to take advantage of the flowing air. The ticketing hall overlooks the international departures concourse, and the two are separated by a glass partition. During Kansai's early days, visitors were known to throw objects over the partition to friends in the corridor below. The partition was eventually modified to halt this practice. On 23 June 2017, at
13029-440: The participation of foreign contractors in the bidding process. Later, foreign airlines complained that two-thirds of the departure hall counter space had been allocated to Japanese carriers, disproportionately to the actual carriage of passengers through the airport. The island had been predicted to sink 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) by the most optimistic estimate as the weight of the material used for construction compressed
13158-439: The population. Sixty-six per cent of families are in part supported by subsistence activities; however, the country as a whole does not produce enough food to be self-sustaining, and thus relies on imports. Agricultural work carries the implication of poverty, and the sector receives little investment from the government. Ninety-four per cent of domestic fish catch comes from the ocean, especially coastal fisheries. Those in
13287-489: The president and the prime minister; and the separation of powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary. Individuals are not allowed to participate in both the legislature and the executive branch. The legislature is intended to provide a check on the executive; in practice the executive has maintained control of the legislature under all political parties, reflecting the dominance of individual leaders within political parties and coalitions. The executive, through
13416-415: The prime minister and the council of ministers. However, as they are directly elected, past presidents have wielded great informal power and influence. The president does have the power to veto government legislation, initiate referendums, and to dissolve parliament in the event that it is unable to form a government or pass a budget. If the president vetoes a legislative action, the parliament can overturn
13545-400: The reefs through education of local citizens, rejecting harmful development projects, and placing emphasis on traditional laws of preserving nature, called Tara Bandu . The economy of East Timor is a market economy , although it is dependent upon the export of a few commodities and has a large public sector. Internally, market operations are limited by widespread poverty. The country uses
13674-514: The seabed silts. However, by 1999, the island had sunk 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in) – almost 50% more than predicted. The project became the most expensive civil works project in modern history after twenty years of planning, three years of construction and US$ 15bn of investment. Much of what was learned went into the successful artificial islands in silt deposits for New Kitakyushu Airport , Kobe Airport , and Chubu Centrair International Airport . The lessons of Kansai Airport were also applied in
13803-401: The second covers approximately 545 hectares (1,347 acres), for a total of 1,055 hectares (2,607 acres). Kansai opened on 4 September 1994 to relieve overcrowding at Osaka International Airport , also called Itami Airport, which is closer to Osaka. It consists of two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 1, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano , is the longest airport terminal in
13932-492: The shooting skills of the MSA officers, pointed out that these revolvers were fundamentally lacking in firepower. The SIG Sauer P228 was adopted by 1992 with the Howa Type 89 assault rifle introduced into service. The SST has access to anti-materiel rifles manufactured by McMillan Firearms . In 1989, Kaikei-tai operatives were involved in storming a Panama-registered vessel after receiving requests via radio for assistance in
14061-402: The sixteenth century, remaining a Portuguese colony until 1975. Internal conflict preceded a unilateral declaration of independence and an Indonesian invasion and annexation . Resistance continued throughout Indonesian rule and in 1999, a United Nations–sponsored act of self-determination led to Indonesia relinquishing control of the territory. On 20 May 2002, as Timor-Leste , it became
14190-579: The state, suco leaders hold great influence and are often seen by their community as representatives of the state. They have responsibilities usually associated with civic administration. Located between Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, the island of Timor is the largest of the Lesser Sunda Islands , which lie within the Malay Archipelago . As such, Timor forms part of the Wallacea region,
14319-400: The temperature is thought to have experienced a small increase due to climate change, there has been little change in annual rainfall. Coastal ecosystems around the country are diverse and varied, with vary spatially between the north and south coastlines, as well as between the eastern tip and areas more to the west. These ecosystems include coral reefs , as the country's waters are part of
14448-464: The terminal at its full planned length. The airport was opened on 4 September 1994. On 17 January 1995, Japan was struck by the Great Hanshin earthquake , the epicenter of which was about 20 km (12 mi) away from KIX and killed 6,434 people on Japan's main island of Honshū . Its earthquake engineering , particularly the use of sliding joints, allowed the airport to emerge unscathed. Even
14577-401: The terminal's promotion space, a game experience area known as " Nintendo Check In" opened. In this game experience area, guests arriving at Terminal 1 can play Nintendo Switch games free of charge. There is a statue of Mario at the experience area, along with Super Mario Cappy caps from Super Mario Odyssey for passengers to take photos with. There also Amiibo figurines on display there. In
14706-498: The territory's nominal status in the UN remained as "non-self-governing territory under Portuguese administration". Fretilin resisted the invasion, initially as an army, holding territory until November 1978, and then as a guerrilla resistance. The Indonesian occupation of Timor was marked by violence and brutality. A detailed statistical report prepared for the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor cited
14835-648: The transfer of military command to the UN. On 30 August 2001, the East Timorese voted in their first election organised by the UN to elect members of the Constituent Assembly. On 22 March 2002, the Constituent Assembly approved the Constitution. By May 2002, more than 205,000 refugees had returned. On 20 May 2002, the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor came into force and East Timor
14964-897: The venues in the FIFA 2002 games. The SST has participated in several Proliferation Security Initiative exercises in Australia under "Exercise Pacific Protector" since September 2003. The SST was stationed on the Yūshin Maru No. 2 after Sea Shepherd protesters in 2008 confronted crewmembers of the Nisshin Maru . From the 2010s, SST operators were deployed to participate in Japanese contingents in various anti-piracy missions near Somali waters. Kansai International Airport Kansai International Airport ( Japanese : 関西国際空港 , romanized : Kansai Kokusai Kūkō ), commonly known as Kankū ( Japanese : 関空 ) ( IATA : KIX , ICAO : RJBB ),
15093-411: The veto with a two-thirds majority. The prime minister is chosen by the parliament, with the president appointing the leader of the majority party or coalition as prime minister of East Timor and the cabinet on the proposal of the latter. As head of government , the prime minister presides over the cabinet. Representatives in the unicameral National Parliament are elected by popular vote to
15222-496: The way. Connecting train service to Wakayama is available at Hineno Station . Various connections, such as buses, subways, trams, and other railroads, are available at each station. Nankai operates the rapi:t , a limited express train service to Namba Station on the southern edge of downtown Osaka. Osaka Metro connections are available at Namba and Tengachaya Station . Rail connections to and from Kansai Airport are expected to further improve access to and from Umeda with
15351-528: The world with a length of 1.7 km ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 16 mi). The airport serves as an international hub for All Nippon Airways , Japan Airlines , and Nippon Cargo Airlines and as a hub for Peach , the first international low-cost carrier in Japan. It is also the North Pacific hub for the FedEx Express , which obtained its fifth-right under the 1998 U.S. and Japan air agreement and established
15480-553: Was recognised as independent by the UN. The Constituent Assembly was renamed the National Parliament, and Xanana Gusmão was elected as the country's first president. On 27 September 2002 the country became a UN member state. In 2006, a crisis of unrest and factional fighting forced 155,000 people to flee their homes; the United Nations sent in security forces to restore order. The following year, Gusmão declined to run for another term. While there were minor incidents in
15609-505: Was allotted four billion yen in government support for fiscal year 2013, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and the Ministry of Finance agreed to reduce this amount in stages through fiscal year 2015, although local governments in the Kansai region have pressed for continued subsidies. Kansai has been marketed as an alternative to Narita Airport for international travelers from
15738-498: Was dispatched to East Timor for non-combatant evacuation operation , and at this time, there is information that two sections of SST were on board to ensure the security of port facilities. In 2000, the SST was deployed after crew members in a Singapore-flagged cargo ship in the East China Sea rioted against their senior officers. In 2002, the SST worked with the Korea Coast Guard 's Sea Special Attack Team as part of securing
15867-593: Was established during Portuguese rule. While decentralisation is mentioned in the constitution, administrative powers generally remain with the national government operating out of Dili. Upon independence there was debate about how to implement decentralisation; various proposed models would create different levels of administration between the sucos and the central government. In most proposals, there were no specific provisions for suco -level governance, and they were expected to continue to exist as mostly traditional spaces, identifying communities rather than being part of
15996-512: Was little overall improvement in living standards; economic growth mostly benefited immigrants from elsewhere in Indonesia. A huge expansion of education was intended to increase Indonesian language use and internal security as much as it was for development. The 1991 massacre of more than 200 demonstrators by the Indonesian military was a turning point for the independence cause, and brought increased international pressure on Indonesia. Following
16125-488: Was lost to the Dutch in 1652. The Portuguese then moved to Lifau , in what is now East Timor's Oecusse exclave. Effective European occupation in the east of the island only began in 1769, when the city of Dili was founded, although actual control remained highly limited. A definitive border between the Dutch and Portuguese parts of the island was established by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 1914 and remains
16254-704: Was occupied by the Allies in 1941, and later by the Japanese beginning in 1942. The mountainous interior of the colony became the scene of a guerrilla campaign , known as the Battle of Timor . Waged by East Timorese volunteers and Allied forces against the Japanese, the struggle killed between 40,000 and 70,000 East Timorese civilians. The Japanese eventually drove the last of the Australian and Allied forces out in early 1943. Portuguese control resumed, however, after Japanese surrender at
16383-607: Was opened in time for the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka , has expanded the airport size to 10.5 square kilometres (2,600 acres). The second runway is used for landings and when there are incidents prohibiting takeoff from runway A. The new runway allowed the airport to start 24-hour operations in September 2007. A new terminal building opened in late 2012. There are additional plans for several new aprons,
16512-479: Was resolved in 2018 following conciliation procedures before the Permanent Court of Arbitration , when the two states established by treaty a maritime boundary between them along with an agreement on natural resource revenues. The Timor Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) was established in 2001, replacing Falintil , and was restructured following the events of 2006. It is responsible not only for safeguarding against external threats, but also for addressing violent crime,
16641-522: Was sought for economic and security reasons, including to improve the relationship with Indonesia. Nonetheless, the process has been slow due to a lack of support from some ASEAN states. East Timor is thus an observer to the Pacific Islands Forum and the Melanesian Spearhead Group . More broadly, the country is a leader within the Group of Seven Plus (g7+) , an organisation of fragile states . It
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