Interfet: Lessons and legacies from East Timor 20 years on

The Indonesian invasion of the former Portuguese colony of East Timor in 1975 was opposed by a coalition of local nationalist groups who engaged in armed resistance. Many people fled to Australia as refugees. Following years of turmoil and after direct urging from the Howard Government, President BJ Habibie offered the East Timorese self-determination. The United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) would ensure voting was free and fair. On 30 August 1999, the East Timorese people declared their overwhelming support for independence. Violence initiated by pro-Jakarta militias produced a humanitarian crisis. Xanana Gusmao, former guerrilla leader and independence advocate, called for international military forces to restore order. The UN accepted Australia’s offer to lead what became the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) consisting of 22 nations. On 20 September the first elements of the largest Australian deployment since the Vietnam War arrived in the East Timorese capital, Dili. More than 5,500 uniformed men and women were involved in the intervention and many thousands more were to follow over the ensuing three years. On 28 February 2000, INTERFET was dissolved and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) assumed complete responsibility for peacekeeping operations and civil affairs. The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste was inaugurated on 20 May 2002.