Restoration of Independence Day (East Timor)

Restoration of Independence Day is a public holiday in East Timor (Timor-Leste), observed on May 20 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of when East Timor was established in 2002.

East Timor is an island country in Southeast Asia. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century and became a Portuguese colony in 1702. During World War II, Australian and Dutch forces occupied East Timor in 1941, and the Japanese occupied it in 1942. East Timor was returned to Portugal in 1945, but the Portuguese abandoned it in 1974.

The Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) declared independence from Portugal on November 28, 1975. However, the Indonesian military occupied East Timor nine days after and made it the 27th Indonesian province in 1976.

During the Indonesian occupation, approximately 200,000 people died from murder, hunger, and illness. In 1999, the United Nation sponsored the independence referendum, and 78.5% of voters favored independence. The United Nation took over the administration in 1999. On May 20, 2002, the Democratic Republic of East Timor became an independent nation.

The following is the list of Restoration of Independence Day in East Timor (Timor-Leste) from 2022 to 2026.

Please check more public holidays in East Timor (Timor-Leste):