Identity After Violence: East Timor's New East-West Divide

Abstract

This article reviews the history of the origin of the East-West distinction in East Timor and describes how its relevance has grown in the country. The article begins with a brief description of the distinction, as it was expressed before 2006, and then presents the events of the crisis during that year. In the third part, the article shows how the new dividing line manifests itself in the different sectors of political life and society.