Page 61 - Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas

Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe (islands in the Gulf of Guinea). The Portuguese
colony of East Timor in the Indonesian archipelago was also released by Portugal, but was
immediately seized by Indonesia. In the last years, it has fought for independence against
violent pro-Indonesian militia groups. Portugal assisted the East Timorese in 1999 with an
international peacekeeping force. Also in 1999, Portugal and China made an agreement to
return the Portuguese territory of Macau (on the south China coast) to Chinese rule, with
provisions to insure its autonomy for 50 years after the start of Chinese rule.

Though the country’s worldwide empire has disappeared, its past is still very much alive
among the Portuguese people today. The handicrafts, colorful costume, festivals and dances,
LYO ^[WPYOTO ]P^_Z]L_TZY ZQ ST^_Z]TN M`TWOTYR^ ]PʮPN_ L N`W_`]LW SP]T_LRP LWXZ^_ `YNSLYRPO TY
spite of much evidence of modern progress.

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