1999-2002 - Independence
On January 27, 1999, Indonesian President B.J.Habibie announced his government's desire to hold a referendum in which the people of East Timor would choose between autonomy within Indonesia and independence. Under an agreement among the United Nations, Portugal, and Indonesia, the referendum was held on August 30, 1999. The referendum took place with the participation of more than 90% [some sources report a 98.6% turnout]. About 78.5% of the East Timorese favored independence and rejected the autonomy suggested by Indonesia.
When the results were announced, Timorese militias organized and supported by the Indonesian military (TNI) commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. Pro-Indonesia militias went on a rampage, assaulting UNAMET headquarters (the observers of the United Nations) and forcing Bishop Ximenes Belo to flee to Australia, while Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão took refuge in the British embassy in Jakarta. The wave of murders continued, promoted by the anti-independence militias and supported by members of the Indonesian army dissatisfied with the referendum results.
While pro-independence FALINTIL guerillas remained cantoned in UN-supervised camps, the militia and the TNI killed approximately 1,300 Timorese and forcibly relocated as many as 300,000 people into West Timor as refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed.
The images stirred protests all over the world at Indonesian, US and British embassies, and even at the United Nations, demanding a hasty intervention to put an end to the murders. There had never been so many popular demonstrations in Portugal, from the North to the South, since April 25, 1974. For the first time, the Internet was strongly used for broadcasting pro-Timor campaigns and encouraging a harsh UN intervention.
After considerable international pressure, the Indonesian President accepted the deployment to East Timor of a multi-national force under UN auspices (INTERFET) to restore order. Finally, on September 18, one contingency force of “blue berets” (an international military force) was deployed to East Timor, consisting initially of 2500 men, later extended to 8000, including Australians, British, French, Italians, Malaysians, North Americans, Brazilians and Argentineans, among others. The peacekeeping mission, led by Brazilian Sérgio Vieira de Mello, aimed at disarming the militias and supporting the transition process and the country’s reconstruction.
On September 20, 1999, Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the country, bringing the violence to an end. United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1272 of 25 October 1999 established the United Nations Transitional Administration of East Timor (UNTAET) and gave it responsibility for administering East Timor and preparing it for self-government.
Portugal and many other countries organized campaigns in order to collect donations, provisions and books. The situation was slowly taken under control with the progressive disarming of the militias and the beginning of the reconstruction of houses, schools and other infrastructures. Xanana Gusmão returned to the country, as well as other Timorese who had gone into exile, including many with university education. Elections were held for a Constituent Assembly that became responsible for drafting Timor-Leste’s Constitution. This document came into force on May 20, 2002, on the same day the country was given its sovereignty. This day is now known as Restoration of Independence Day. On 20 May 2002, the UN handed over control to the first democratically elected government of East Timor and UNTAET gave way to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).
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