East Timor to put its clocks forward one hour

DILI, East Timor, Aug 18, 2000 (AP) -- East Timor will move its clocks forward one hour, a U.N. official said Friday.

Barbara Reis, a U.N. spokesperson, said the change would start in September and would effectively create two time zones throughout divided Timor island, which is less than 500 kilometers (300 miles) in length.

East Timor will become nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, instead of the present eight. Indonesian-controlled West Timor will be one hour behind its neighbor.

Residents in the isolated East Timorese enclave of Oecusse, which is surrounded by West Timor on three fronts, will also move their clocks forward by an hour.

Reis said the decision was taken by the territory's U.N. and pro-independence leaders in an effort to make more use of daylight hours and to put it's time in line with other nearby regions. 

August Menu
World Leaders Contact List
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu