east timor
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East Timor
Azita and Selina
Conflicts in East Timor
• Civil war between Fretilin and UDT, August 1975
• Indonesian invasion (Operasi Seroja), December 1975
• Indonesian campaign of terror, 1999• Political crisis, 2006
Civil war
Civil warAugust 1975
• Secret Indonesian propaganda campaign Operasi Komodo divides supporters of UDT and Fretilin
• UDT fears coup from Fretilin and stages own in Dili
• Fretilin overcomes UDT’s attempt to push away Fretilin supporters
• Fretilin declares independence of East Timor on 28th November 1975
• Indonesia responds with “Balibo Declaration”, for unity of Indonesia and East Timor
Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor
Indonesia’s invasion of East TimorDecember 1975
• Began 7th December, 1975• Largest military operation carried out by Indonesia• Political instability and fight against communism used
as excuses to invade• Indonesian troops shoot East Timorese in cities, loot
houses and rape women and girls• 2000 people killed in Dili in first week• Many more put to death• East Timor made Indonesia’s 27th province• Annexation unrecognised by UN
Indonesian campaign of terror
Indonesian campaign of terror1999
• East Timorese are permitted to vote between autonomy and independence
• Almost all eligible voters vote in referendum• Majority vote on independence (78.5%)• Militia supported by Indonesia rampage through East
Timor• INTERFET is established • Australia leads international intervention force to stop
killings• Indonesia withdraws troops and allows intervention
force to stabilise conditions
2006 crisis
2006 crisis• East Timorese troops from the West complain of discrimination
using a petition • Almost 600 soldiers desert barracks• Deserters refuse to obey order to return to army• Petitioners relieved of duty• Peaceful demonstration held in Dili by former soldiers and
supporters• Protest becomes violent and continues• FDTL arrive and shoot civilians in crowd while fighting rebels• Major Alfredo Reinado and followers desert FDTL in protest of
“deliberate murder of civilians”• Government promises to compensate former soldiers with
wages• Majority of rebels surrender
Australia’s involvement in East Timor
Australia’s involvement in East Timor
• Did not recognise Fretilin’s declaration of independence in 1975
• Did not oppose idea of annexation of East Timor in 1975
• Did not attempt to intervene in invasion in 1975 • Howard government changed position from no
support of East Timorese self-determination• Troops led international intervention force in 1999 to
stop killings • Helped to create good conditions for East Timor to
gain independence
Australia’s involvement in East Timor cont.
• Committed 5500 troops to and led INTERFET• Public approved of support of East Timor• Convinced Thailand, Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia to join
INTERFET• Had 440 troops stay in East Timor with UN peacekeeping force
in 2004• Led ISF to stabilise situation in Dili’s 2006 crisis• Soldiers and police trained East Timor’s army and police force• Supported (as ISF) but was not part of UN Integrated Mission in
Timor-Leste• Currently has troops stationed in Dili for “as long as Dili wants
them”• Gave $123.7 million for aid in 2011-2012
The importance of East Timor’s stability to Australia
The importance of East Timor’s stability to Australia
• Conflicts in East Timor require more Australian troops and funding to respond
• Could also potentially mean more loss of Australian lives
• Instability could increase number of migrants • Support of East Timor in conflict might harm
relations with Indonesia• Fragility of law and government means it
could become a base for transnational crime and terrorism
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