International Force for East Timor

International Force for East Timor
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.
Date 20 September 1999 – 28 February 2000 Location East Timor Status Conflict ended Defeat of pro-Indonesian militia Stabilisation of East Timor
Belligerents
International Force: Australia – 5,500 United States –2,400 New Zealand – 1,200 Brazil  Canada  France  Germany  Ireland  Italy  Jordan  Kenya  Malaysia  Norway  Pakistan  Philippines  Portugal  Singapore  South Korea  Thailand – 1,600 United Kingdom	Insurgents: Pro-Indonesian Militias Aitarak Besi Merah Putih Laksaur Mahidi
Commanders and leaders
John Howard Peter Cosgrove Jenny Shipley Helen Clark Carey Adamson	Wiranto Eurico Guterres

Conflict ended

International Force:

Insurgents:

The International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) was a multinational non-United Nations peacemaking taskforce, organised and led by Australia in accordance with United Nations resolutions to address the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from 1999–2000 until the arrival of UN peacekeepers. INTERFET was commanded by an Australian, Major General Peter Cosgrove.

Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed the former Portuguese colony. The annexation was recognised by few nations (including Australia and the United States) and was resisted by many East Timorese. Cold War security concerns were emphasised, while foreign powers also placed high importance on good relations with Indonesia and were largely reluctant to assist a push for independence as a result. However, following the fall of long-serving Indonesian President Suharto the new president, B. J. Habibie, was prepared to grant special autonomy for East Timor.

In late 1998, the Australian prime minister, John Howard, with his foreign minister, Alexander Downer, drafted a letter to Habibie supporting the idea of autonomy but incorporating a suggestion that the long-term issue of East Timorese self-determination could best be defused by providing the East Timorese with an opportunity for a plebiscite after a substantial period of autonomy. The explicit comparison was with the Matignon Accords involving France and New Caledonia. The letter upset Habibie, who saw it as implying Indonesia was a "colonial power", and he decided in response to announce a snap referendum to be conducted within six months.

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Wikipedia