1999 East Timorese crisis

1999 East Timorese crisis
Part of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor and the Fall of Suharto
Australian members of International Forces East Timor (INTERFET), talk to a citizen in Dili, East Timor in February 2000. INTERFET troops entered Dili on 20 September, two weeks after pro-Indonesian paramilitary groups began a final wave of violence.
Location East Timor Status Conflict resolved Defeat of pro-Indonesian militia Stabilisation of East Timor USA embargo military sales to Indonesia 9 September 1999 – 22 November 2005 UK embargo military sales to Indonesia 11 September 1999 – 11 April 2012 Australia embargo military sales to Indonesia September 1999 European Union (EU) embargo military sales to Indonesia 16 September 1999 – 17 January 2000
Belligerents
East Timor	Pro-Indonesian militias Aitarak Besi Merah Putih Laksaur Mahidi
Commanders and leaders
	Wiranto Eurico Guterres

Conflict resolved

Pro-Indonesian militias

The 1999 East Timorese crisis began with attacks by anti-independence militants on civilians, and expanded to general violence throughout the country, centred in the capital Dili. The violence erupted after a majority of eligible voters in the population of East Timor chose independence from Indonesia. Some 1,400 civilians are believed to have died. A UN-authorized force (INTERFET) consisting mainly of Australian Defence Force personnel was deployed to East Timor to establish and maintain peace.

Independence for East Timor, or even limited regional autonomy, was never going to be allowed under Suharto's New Order. Notwithstanding Indonesian public opinion in the 1990s occasionally showing begrudging appreciation of the Timorese position, it was widely feared that an independent East Timor would destabilise Indonesian unity. Renewed United Nations-brokered mediation efforts between Indonesia and Portugal began in early 1997. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, however, caused tremendous upheaval in Indonesia and led to Suharto's resignation in May 1998, ending his thirty-year presidency.Prabowo, by then in command of the powerful Indonesian Strategic Reserve, went into exile in Jordan and military operations in East Timor were costing the bankrupt Indonesian government a million dollars a day. The subsequent "reformasi" period of relative political openness and transition, included unprecedented debate about Indonesia's relationship with East Timor. For the remainder of 1998, discussion forums took place throughout Dili working towards a referendum. Indonesian Foreign Minister Alatas described plans for phased autonomy leading to possible independence as "all pain, no gain" for Indonesia. On 8 June 1998, three weeks after taking office, Suharto's successor B. J. Habibie announced that Indonesia would soon offer East Timor a special plan for autonomy.

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