On this day 11 years ago, a multinational peacekeeping force comprising mainly Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed in East Timor. A few weeks before this, almost 80% of East Timor’s residents had voted for independence from Indonesia, and pro-Indonesian militias had been roaming the country, killing thousands of people, apparently using weapons supplied by the Indonesian army. Surprisingly vigorous deployment of peacekeeping forces quickly drove out the militias.
Portugal began colonising areas of southeast Asia in the 16th century, establishing outposts in Timor and other islands. In 1769, the year before Captain Cook first set eyes on Australia, the city of Dili was founded as the capital of Portuguese Timor. Apart from a brief period during the second world war, Portuguese control over East Timor remained until a change of government in Portugal resulted in the commencement of decolonisation in 1974. East Timor was essentially abandoned, and it declared itself independent in 1975. Nine days later, Indonesia invaded and seized control.
Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor lasted for 24 years, and during that time around 10% of the country’s population died from conflict or from hunger or illness caused by conflict. Eventually after international pressure the Indonesian government allowed East Timor to hold a referendum at which residents overwhelmingly voted for independence. After 11 years of independence the country remains poor, but owns considerable oil resources.