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