The birth of the tiny nation of East Timor in 2002 came at a heavy price for its people after years of conflict, occupation and bloodshed.
It was removed from the UN's colonies list in 1975, as Indonesia took advantage of Portugal's departure to occupy the territory.
When Timor finally won its independence, thousands died in the resulting mayhem.
Now as the country begins to find its feet, Al Jazeera's Step Vaessen finds it is still struggling with its colonial legacy.
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