Peace Without Poison

From 1975, when the Indonesians invaded, until 1977, the total fertility rate declined further,from 5 to 4.4 children per woman probably due to momentum and the misery of war rather thanany deliberate efforts. From 1977 until 1999, when the Indonesians left the country and East-Timor became independent, fertility rose from 4.4 to 7 children per woman, the highest level ithas ever been.As soon as Indonesia’s occupation ended in 1999, the administration of East-Timor was takenover by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), and remainedin UN hands until 2002. During this time the UN did not interfere with the people’s fertility, butmade preparations for a depopulation program to be kick started as soon as East-Timor had itsfirst President, Xanana Gusmão, who assumed office in May 2002. By 2003, covertdepopulation measures had begun and remain in place today. From 2003 until today, the totalfertility rate has declined from 7 to 5 children per woman despite the fact that only 22% of thepeople use contraceptives.It could be argued that this reduction has been accomplished through better provision of familyplanning services and sexual education, but this is unlikely given that the illiteracy rate is veryhigh at 60%. The more likely explanation for the drop in fertility is the use of sterilizingvaccines administered under various pretexts.East-Timor is in stage two of the demographic transition.842 | P a g e