A lot of younger Timorese were not happy with the decision.

Xanana made a defense of it, arguing that Portuguese was gave Timor-Leste an identity unique from the recent of Indonesia.

Portugal has been very generous, both financially and diplomatically.. Mind, they're not a particularly wealthy country either.

My not-so-tongue-in-cheek option was that they should join the Federation of Malaysia and adopt Bahasa as their second official language.

I still think that's the best choice.

But .. it's their country. They'll decide what path it'll take.