By XuanThu Pham, Give2Asia
I watched Mr. Hans Klemm, U.S. Ambassador to Timor-L’Este, speak yesterday at The Asia Foundation office about the current state of the Timor-L’Este and what efforts must be made to protect its people, rebuild its economy, and reinforce public services.Equivalent to the size of Connecticut with a population of one million, Timor-L’Este is one of Asia’s poorest states. Its past was colored with tumultuous violence and political instability since its independence from Indonesia in 2002. There is concern that Timor-L’Este may become a haven for religious extremists and that corruption within the military and police forces will continue to spread.
