MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 2004: From the beginning of the 18th century East Timor had been under Portuguese colonial rule. In 1974 a move towards decolonialization started. In August 1975 a civil war broke out and led to the declaration of independence by the Frente Revolucionaria de Timor Leste (Fretlin) on 17th Nov 1975. On Dec 7. 1975 Indonesian forces invaded East Timor and the territory was incorporated as Indonesia's 27th Province in July 1976. Indonesia's claim to East Timor was never officially recognized by the UN, which regarded Portugal as the legal administrative power, while Fretlin guerrilla groups continued to wage an insurgent "reign of terror" against the Indonesian-aligned political parties.