Which southeast asian country gained its independence in 2002?

East Timor.

East Timor had been colonized by Portugal in the 16th century and remained under Portuguese control until 1975.  Within days after declaring its independence from Portugal in 1975, East Timor was overtaken by military forces from Indonesia and was annexed as a province of Indonesia the following year.  With the United Nations urging self-determination, East Timor became an independent nation in 2002, no longer under Indonesian control.

Getting elected because not many people were voting