East Timor: 12 Years on from Independence05/31/2014May 31, 2014A Report by Dieter HermannCopy linkImage: APAdvertisementEast Timor: 12 Years on from Independence12:06This browser does not support the video element. East Timor gained independence 12 years ago. With an underdeveloped economy and high poverty rates it faces many challenges. However, as Dieter Hermann finds out, the country is not short of hope, or ambition.