Motives for Intervention

Indonesia annexing East Timor in 1975 after Portuguese colonials withdrew
1999 - new Indonesia leader, B.J Habibie suggested that East Timor may gain independence from Indonesia if they reject autonomy
Sept 1999 - East Timor independence referendum
- 78% voted for independence of East Timor
  - Anti-independence Indonesian militia with backing from Indonesian army attack East Timor, killing up to 1,000 people
  - 1/4 population of Timor fled to West Timor

Type of Intervention

What Was Done

Operation Spitfire evacuated UNAMET (United Nations Mission in East Timor) staff, foreign nationals and refugees to Darwin, Australia
Australian PM John Howard gained support of the UN for an Australian-led peacekeeping mission to enter East Timor
- INTERFET (International Force East Timor)
  - Non-UN force operating in accordance with UN Resolutions
15th Sept 1999: UN Security Council Resolution 1264 calling for a multinational force to restore peace in East Timor
RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) redeployed aircraft to act as a deterrent against the Indonesian militia forces
10/22 nations involved in the peacekeeping mission gave naval support to East Timor (largest being AUS with 14 ships)
Indonesian forces withdrew and UNAMET reestablished HQ in Dili, East Timor
Indonesia formally recognised the independence referendum and UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor) was established
Pro-East Timor politician and guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao freed
Dec 1999: International donors at Tokyo Conference agree to provide US$520 million to East Timor
Feb 2000: INTERFET deployment ended with transfer of military command to the UN

Positives

Many militia members fled to West Timor
East Timor independence on 20th May 2002 (becomes 191st UN member)
Signed Timor Sea Treaty with Australia to define a Joint Petroleum Development Area, awarding 90% of revenues from existing projects to East Timor and 10% going to Australia
Literacy rate increases but still at a very low 58.3% (2010)
- At 37.6% in 2001
Enrolment in schools
- 8.4% - 81.6% (2001-2005) primary education
- 6.8% - 46.3% (2001-2005) secondary education

Negatives

Sept 2000: UN forced to evacuate staff from West Timor after 3 workers killed by pro-Indonesian gangs

	Created by Wesley Spearman almost 7 years ago

A level Geography (Health, Human Rights and Intervention) Note on Peacekeepers in East Timor, created by Wesley Spearman on 08/05/2018.