East Timor

The Background Of Australia's Largest Peacekeeping Mission

Indonesia invaded Timor Leste in 1975. After almost a quarter of a century of bloodshed in the territory a new Indonesian government, under President Habibie, agreed to allow the Timorese to vote on their future. In 1997-98 the Indonesian government collapsed under the constant pressure caused by the Asian economic crisis sweeping the region at the time. After supporting a UN-sponsored referendum on self-determination in August 1999, units of the Australian Defense Force (ADF) were deployed to Indonesian-occupied Timor Leste in September 1999. In September 1999, ADF personnel were the leading units in the International Force East Timor (INTERFET), the UN-mandated multinational force formed to address the deteriorating humanitarian and security situations.