TAUR Matan Ruak’s face turned a deep red in his effort to contain his anger. Once in a while he clenched his fists, his emotions running amok. The Falintil Commander—the armed forces of Timor Loro Sa’e—cannot hide obvious frustration. "We were attacked by the militias. We only had two choices: either live or die," he said.

A year after seizing "independence" from Indonesia, Timor Loro Sa’e has yet to settle down. Althou