Dili

Initial Portuguese settlement Dili has played a central role in the history of Timor-Leste. The tumultuous history of the city has resulted in a great deal of information being lost; archives in the city were destroyed in 1779, 1890, 1975, and 1999. The first recorded Portuguese voyage to the island from Portuguese Malacca occurred in 1516, returning with sandalwood. In 1521, sandalwood was left out of a list of products under royal monopoly, leaving most trade with Timor in the hands of private enterprises. It was originally intended that the administration be set up at Vemasse further east, but perhaps because of the favourable geography, a settlement was established at Dili instead. More permanent buildings of one or two stories were constructed throughout the late 19th century. In 1863, Dili was declared a city (although the news may not have arrived to the city until the next year), and East Timor became directly subordinate to the Lisbon government. In 1866 the territory was again put under the jurisdiction of Macau. An 1887 mutiny in Dili led to the death of the governor at the time. The territory was separated from Macau for the last time in 1896, again coming directly under the jurisdiction of Lisbon, and becoming a full province in 1909. built by the Portuguese Permanent structures in Portuguese style continued to be constructed into the 20th century. Four distinct residential districts developed around the city core. Bidau was the largest, and Benamauc joined it on the eastern side. Caicole developed to the south between the city and Lahane. Colmera developed as a commercial area to the west with a large number of Muslim traders. Motael continued to develop, becoming the site of the city's lighthouse. Motael Church began to be built in 1901. Inland to the southwest, a Chinese cemetery was established, and beyond that a military area known as Taibesse. Destruction, reconstruction, and Indonesian rule During World War II, Portugal and its colonies remained neutral, but the Allies saw East Timor as a potential target for Japanese invasion. Upon the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, Australian and Dutch troops were sent to Dili despite Portuguese objections. In response, the Japanese invaded Dili as part of a two-pronged invasion of Timor. The city had been mostly abandoned prior to the invasion, The Japanese left the Portuguese governor nominally in position, but took over administration. Much of Dili was destroyed during the war, Following the Second World War, Dili covered what today is the old core of the city, within the sucos of Acadiru Hun, Bemori, Bidau Lecidere, Caicoli, Colmera, Culu Hun, Gricenfor, Motael, and Santa Cruz. Portuguese Timor became a full part of Following the initial post-war reconstruction of Dili's immediately critical infrastructure, an urban plan was developed in 1951 covering urban layout, road development, zoning, and building regulations. The last Portuguese governor fled Dili for Atauro Island on 26 August, as the civil war continued. This invasion brought the territory under Indonesian rule. On 17 July 1976, Indonesia annexed East Timor, which it designated its 27th province. Despite Indonesian attempts to restrict rural-urban migration, the population of Dili continued to grow, reaching 80,000 people in 1985, and over 100,000 in 1999, and economic growth for the territory remained centred in Dili. Part of the internal migration was due to people fleeing the continuing conflict in rural areas. Nonetheless, many in the city continued to support the Fretilin-led resistance, providing a communications link between the rebels and the rest of the world, and setting up safe houses in the city. Others who supported Indonesian rule became informants, known as ''mau'hu''. On 12 November 1991, Indonesian forces were filmed shooting at a funeral procession. This led to global condemnation of Indonesia's rule in East Timor, increasing pressure for East Timorese self-determination. In the first 48 hours, international media organisations present in the city reported 145 deaths. Most foreigners were evacuated. Administrative buildings were looted, and much of the city was destroyed by fire. 120,000 people became refugees. International pressure grew for an international peacekeeping force to replace the Indonesian military, which Indonesia agreed to on 12 September. On 14 September, the UN evacuated refugees that had been sheltering in its Dili compound to Australia. The Australian-led International Force East Timor arrived on 20 September. Most of the 150,000 people displaced were from Dili, including about half of the city's residents. Focusing the peace campaign on Dili reflects the influence it has on the entire country, with the government expecting its impacts would extend beyond the city itself. of which 210,250 lived in urban areas. In 2018 the population reached 281,000 people. During a period of COVID-19 restrictions, the city was hit by the worst flood in 50 years in April 2021. ==Geography==

Dili lies on the northern coast of the island of Timor, which is among the eastern Lesser Sunda Islands and lies in the UTC+9 timezone. The precise location of the city is around 8°35′S, 125°36′E. The municipalities bordering Dili are Aileu, Liquiçá, and Manatuto. The urban area of the city of Dili extends through four of the Dili Municipality's Administrative Posts, Cristo Rei, Dom Aleixo, Nain Feto, and Vera Cruz. 18 sucos within these are considered urban, and this urban area is perhaps large. The soil underneath this plain is quaternary alluvium. The Comoro River flows through the western side of the city, while the Bemorl and Benmauc Rivers join together in the East. The Maloa river lies between these. The Maucau river flows through Tibar, while the Akanunu and Mota Kiik rivers flow through Hera. Mangrove species found along the coastline include the near-threatened Ceriops decandra. The seagrass beds support dugongs and sea turtles, while dolphins and whales are found offshore. Near-threatened bird species found in these protected areas include the black cuckoo-dove, the pink-headed imperial pigeon, and the Timor sparrow. Climate Dili has a rather dry tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw). A rainy season lasts from November to April and a dry season from May to October. Rainfall is highest in December, averaging between 2005 and 2013, and lowest in August, averaging over the same time period. The overall average is annually, although there is significant variation between years. }} Buildings and monuments The old quarter of the city lies within what is now the city's eastern half. including 68,000 homes. The government has identified a number of heritage buildings in the city, especially in the old quarter. The National Library of Timor-Leste is intended to serve as both a library and a national archive. Notable churches include the Motael Church, the oldest in the country, which became associated with resistance to Indonesian rule. It is positioned at the end of a Stations of the Cross pathway including over 500 steps. The National Stadium has two seating stands, one on either side, with grass banks providing space for other spectators. It has a capacity of around 9,000 people. It is often used to host association football, the most popular sport in the country, although infrastructure issues mean the national team must sometimes play home games in other countries. In the past it has been used to host refugees and distribute aid. File:Palacio do Governo 2011.jpg|Government Palace, Dili (Timor-Leste's prime minister's Office) File:Hindu Tempel Dili04.jpg|Pura Girinatha Hindu temple, built during Indonesian occupation File:2017-03-30 Kathedrale von Dili 1.jpg|Dili Cathedral File:110623-F-HS649-551 (5881875275).jpg|Cristo Rei of Dili atop a summit on Fatucama peninsula outside of Dili File:Painel pateo AMRT1.jpg|Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum ==Administration==

Dili is the administrative centre of the Dili Municipality, The municipality has an elected mayor and council. Timor-Leste's municipalities are divided into administrative posts, and each of these is divided into sucos. The central city of Dili is spread over four of the six administrative posts within Dili municipality: Cristo Rei, Dom Aleixo, Nain Feto, and Vera Cruz. The Hera suco is the easternmost suco of Cristo Rei. Tibar, to the west of the main city, is the easternmost suco of the Bazartete Administrative Post in the Liquiçá Municipality. Each suco has a chefe. Those in Dili have less influence over community land than those elsewhere, however their elected status gives them greater authority in other areas. Each also has a head office. Municipal and national government buildings are concentrated in the city centre, mainly in the sucos of Caicori, Colmera, and Gricenfor. Sucos, administrative posts, and municipalities are all tasked with setting up a Disaster Management Committee. These are responsible for planning, public awareness, and disaster response. The borders of sucos, and the aldeias within them, are often undefined. Reasons for this include the history of displacement, and taboo over formal demarcation. Land registration is difficult due to the city's tumultuous history, and legal ownership is often unclear. It is thought that in 1999 existing land records were taken from Dili to Indonesia. The new government attempted to set up a system of rent, charging a small fee of $10 a month for those occupying state property. However, in many cases even this could not be paid. In 2003 the national government legislated that all previous state property, as well as abandoned properties, belonged to the state. It also set up a system of registration based on occupation. Residents can claim land they live in, if there are no objections from others. The 2006 crisis put an end to attempts to enforce rent. Evictions from state property are rare. A cadastral survey began in 2008. As of 2014, 70% of the land in Dili had been surveyed, although this information is not public. Despite this lack of information, most in the city claim ownership of their homes, with 90% of homes considered owned by an individual or by a family. Land valuation is often unclear. The sucos within the four administrative posts in the western Dili Municipality that form the core city are as follows: Cristo Rei • Balibar • Becora • Bidau Santana • Camea • Culuhun • Hera • Metiaut Dom Aleixo • Bairro Pite • Comoro • Fatuhada • Kampung Alor Nain Feto • Acadiruhun • Bemori • Bidau Lecidere • Gricenfor • Lahane Oriental • Santa Cruz Vera Cruz • Caicoli • Colmera • Dare • Lahane Ocidental • Mascarenhas • Motael • Vila Verde ==Economy==

The economic situation in Dili is substantially better than that of the rest of the country, and most wealth is concentrated there. Almost all of the sucos of Dili are among those with the country's highest living standards and the greatest access to public services. every suco within the city proper was ranked within the highest level of living standards. In 2004 18,331 people were working in the agricultural sector, 1,885 in resources and manufacturing, 5,027 in hospitality, 3,183 in finance, real estate, and logistics, 6,520 in government services and security, 879 in home industries, 6,354 for international diplomatic bodies, and 2,142 unknown. Some tourism and industrial complexes are being developed within the metropolitan area. Important hotels include Hotel Timor and Hotel Dili. Most large investments come from the public sector, although there is a growing small-scale private sector. The Dili municipality is responsible for around 40% of the country's fish production, most of which is consumed domestically. The country's three significant commercial banks operate primarily in Dili. The Port of Dili is the country's largest. It handles the majority of international shipping. There are regular ships to Darwin (Australia), Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), Surabaya (Indonesia), and Singapore, and less frequent shipping to and from other Indonesian ports. As of 2011, the port processed 200,000 tonnes of goods annually, which had increased by 20% each year for the previous six years. 80% of the goods processed are imports. ==Demographics==

-speaking area. The 2022 census found the population of the municipality was 324,269, of which 82.4% were urban. The city contains almost twice as many dwellings as all other urban areas in the country combined. A dialect of Malay-based creole called Dili Malay is spoken by perhaps 1,000 residents with ancestral links to Alor Island. Migration into the city has led to clustering of incoming migrants into areas with others of similar backgrounds. ==Education==

Education is more common in Dili Municipality than elsewhere in the country. The attendance rate at primary schools increased from 37% in 2004 to 73% in 2010. As of 2010, 86% of those five or older in the municipality had attended primary school, equivalent to the literacy rate. Within the metropolitan area, education rates are highest in Nain Feto and Vera Cruz, where 88% are either attending or have attended primary school. These are followed by Dom Alexio at 87%, and Cristo Rei at 81%. Tibar, lying outside of Dili Municipality, has the lowest at 75%. As of 2013, there were 108 schools in Dili, Hera, and Tibar, including primary, secondary, and specialist schools. Of these, 61 were public and 47 private. This equated to 4.8 schools per 10,000 people. In 2011, 43% of students in the Dili municipality studied in private schools. Many private schools are run by the Catholic Church, for example, Don Bosco Training Center, including 32% of all schools in the Dili Municipality. Seventy-six per cent of the country's university students study in the municipality. This is responsible for some of the internal migration to the city. The National University of Timor-Leste created a "University City" master plan to develop the Hera area. ==Infrastructure==

to the west. The large Comoro River is crossed by just two vehicle bridges. Up to 70% of the country's infrastructure was destroyed in 1999, including almost the entire electrical grid, and much of the water infrastructure. Dili's airport and port were rehabilitated in the six years following this, along with electricity and telecommunications. The rapid population growth of the city has put a strain on some of its infrastructure services. By 2009, Comoro was producing 32 MW, part of a ring surrounding the country. as well as another cable connecting to the Indonesian island of Alor. As of 2020, there were 3 telecommunications companies in the country: Telemor, Telkomcel, and Timor Telecom. Water and sanitation Access to clean water and sanitation is an issue for some households. As of 2013, while 36% of households were connected to the water supply system, half Dili received less than six hours of water a day. Furthermore, water quality was irregular, with boiling advised. Dili is the location of the country's water testing laboratory, and thus its water quality is regularly monitored. There is no city-wide sewerage system. Dili also has one of the country's two septage treatment facilities. It is expected that this bridge will also be expanded to four lanes in the future. Even under Indonesian rule, during which the use of Portuguese was banned, Portuguese street names like Avenida Marechal Carmona remained unchanged, although they were prefixed with the Indonesian word Jalan or 'road'. Sea in 2018, before it was converted to a passenger port The Port of Dili has a total berth length of . Depths alongside the berth range from to . Construction began on 30 August 2019, with completion scheduled for August 2021. As of December 2020, construction was 42% complete, with delays including Chinese workers returning to China during the COVID-19 pandemic. The port was then expected to open in April 2022. The port received its first ships on 30 September that year, and was officially inaugurated on 30 November 2022. A dry port has been created from the main Port of Dili, and there is a naval port in Hera. A twice-weekly ferry service operates between Dili and Oecusse, and a ferry travels between Dili and Atauro once a week. is located in the city. ==Culture==

Within the city, cultural differences exist not only between different ethnolinguistic groups, but between more established residents of the city, and recent immigrants who retain different cultural practices. Legal traditions reflecting Portuguese and Indonesian rule do not always align with customary practices, such as in the recognition of marriages. Those who migrate internally into Dili retain cultural and identity links to their rural areas of origin, which are passed down through generations. Urban residents often return to rural areas for traditional ceremonies, especially during the dry season, and elections. There is some more homogeneity at the aldeia level due to families settling near relatives, although this is also not consistent. Aldeia nearer the outskirts, or in areas formerly populated by Indonesian civil servants, are both more densely populated and particularly heterogenous both ethnolinguistically and socioeconomically. Some street art continues to reflect a theme of resistance. The composition of these groups often reflects areas of rural origin, The development of cultural facilities has included the building up of cultural institutions such as libraries and museums, and the development of audio-visual multimedia centres through which information will be more accessible. The country's first locally produced feature film, ''Beatriz's War'', was released a couple of years later. which was repeated in 2020. Radio is very popular, and the city has 13 FM radio stations. ==International relations==

Diplomatic missions Embassies • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Consulate generals • Honorary consulates • • • Twin towns – sister cities Dili is twinned with the following places: • Canberra, Australia (2004) • Coimbra, Portugal (2002) • Darwin, Australia (2003) • Lisbon, Portugal (2001) • Macau, China (2024) • Manila, Philippines (2011) • Margao, India (2001) • Okinawa, Japan (2005) • Praia, Cape Verde (2001) == See also ==