East Timor

Azita and Selina

East Timor Mountainous island 430 km west of Darwin Capital city – Dili Official languages – Tetum and Portuguese Working languages – Indonesian and English At beginning, West Timor occupied by Dutch and

East Timor by Portuguese Later annexed by Indonesia Voted for independence in 1999 Gained independence in 2002

Conflicts in East Timor

Conflicts in East Timor

Civil war between Fretilin and UDT, August 1975

Operasi Seroja, December 1975 Santa Cruz massacre, 1991 Indonesian campaign of terror, 1999 Dili 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

Operasi Seroja

Operasi SerojaDecember 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

Santa Cruz massacre

Santa Cruz massacreNovember 1991

Independence supporter Sebastião Gomes is shot by Indonesian troops

East Timorese hold peaceful protest on the way to Gomes’ memorial service on 12th November

Indonesian troops open fire on mourners as they enter the cemetery

Cemetery is sealed off and injured East Timorese are left to die

Journalists witness and capture footage of massacre and smuggle it to Australia

Indonesian authorities pass shootings off as a “misunderstanding” while politicians and officials justify violence

“People were ripped apart. The troops just kept shooting, moving their guns from left to right, killing

anyone still standing.”

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

Dili crisis

Dili crisis2006

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 Attempted to confiscate footage of Santa Cruz

massacre 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 is

necessary” Gave $123.7 million for aid in 2011-2012

Importance of East Timor’s stability to Australia

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

The end