Timor-Leste in 2009: Marking ten years of independence or dependance on international 'assistance'?

The progress on tackling the residual problems of the 2006 political and security crisis helped Timor-Leste enjoy relative stability in 2009. This is evidenced by the generally calm security environment with almost no instances of violence, closure of all the camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the availability of critical commodities such as fuel and rice at affordable prices subsidized by the government. The improvement in the security environment is also mirrored in positive public perceptions reported in a country-wide opinion survey, in which over four-fifths (87 per cent) of 1,120 respondents indicated in December 2008 that they felt safer in their communities compared to 2006.