1999 East Timorese crisis

1999 East Timorese crisis
Part of the decolonisation of Asia and the fall of Suharto
Destroyed houses in Dili
Date April 1999 – 2002 Location East Timor Result East Timorese victory Defeat of pro-Indonesian militia Stabilisation of East Timor East Timorese independence referendum US embargo of military sales to Indonesia from 9 September 1999 to 22 November 2005[1][2][3] UK embargo of military sales to Indonesia from 11 September 1999 to 11 April 2012[4] Australia embargo of military sales to Indonesia September 1999[1] European Union (EU) embargo of military sales to Indonesia 16 September 1999 – 17 January 2000[5][6]
Belligerents
East Timor INTERFET UNTAET	Pro-Indonesia militias Aitarak Besi Merah Putih Laksaur Mahidi
Commanders and leaders
John Howard Peter Cosgrove Jenny Shipley Helen Clark Carey Adamson Sérgio Vieira de Mello Brig. Gen. Paulo Pereira Guerreiro  †[7]	Wiranto Eurico Guterres
Strength
11,000 military and police[8]	13,000 militias[9]
Casualties and losses
17 killed (UNTAET personnel)[10] 49 UN staff and NGOs captured later released[11]	15–19 killed[12][13][14] 301+ captured[13][15][16]
1,400 civilians killed 220,000+ refugees[17] 2 journalists killed[18] 1 Indonesian soldier killed[19] 1 Indonesian police officer killed[20]

The 1999 East Timorese crisis began with attacks by pro-Indonesia militia groups on civilians, and expanded to general violence throughout the country, centred in the capital Dili. The violence intensified after a majority of eligible East Timorese voters voted for independence from Indonesia. A Scorched Earth Operation by militia groups destroyed 80% of Dili's infrastructure.^[21][22] At least 1,400 civilians are believed to have been murdered both before and after voting.^[23] A UN-authorized force (INTERFET) consisting mainly of Australian Defence Force personnel was deployed to East Timor to establish and maintain peace.