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International Force East Timor

The International Force East Timor (INTERFET) was a multinational non-United Nations peacemaking task force, organised and led by Australia in accordance with United Nations resolutions to address the humanitarian and security crisis that took place in East Timor from 1999–2000 until the arrival of UN peacekeepers.[1] INTERFET was commanded by an Australian military officer, Major General Peter Cosgrove.

International Force East Timor
Logo of INTERFET
Also known asINTERFET
LeaderMajor General Peter Cosgrove
Dates of operationSeptember 20, 1999 (1999-09-20)–February 20, 2000 (2000-02-20)
CountrySee list
Allegiance Australia
StatusHanded over command of military operations to UNTAET
Size11,500 personnel (at the peak of deployment)
Battles and wars1999 East Timorese crisis
Succeeded by
UNTAET

Background edit

Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed the former Portuguese colony. The annexation was recognised by few nations (including Australia and the United States) and was resisted by many East Timorese. Cold War security concerns were emphasised,[2] while foreign powers also placed high importance on good relations with Indonesia and were largely reluctant to assist a push for independence as a result. However, following the fall of long-serving Indonesian President Suharto, the new president, B. J. Habibie, was prepared to grant East Timor special autonomy.[3]

In late 1998, the Australian prime minister, John Howard, with his foreign minister, Alexander Downer, drafted a letter to Habibie supporting the idea of autonomy but incorporating a suggestion that the long-term issue of East Timorese self-determination could best be defused by providing the East Timorese with an opportunity for a plebiscite after a substantial period of autonomy. The explicit comparison was with the Matignon Accords involving France and New Caledonia.[4] The letter upset Habibie, who saw it as implying Indonesia was a "colonial power", and he decided in response to announce a snap referendum to be conducted within six months.[3]

News of the proposal provoked a violent reaction from pro-Indonesian militia in East Timor. The Indonesian army did not intervene to restore order. At a summit in Bali, Howard told Habibie that a United Nations peacekeeping force should oversee the process. Habibie rejected the proposal, believing it would have insulted the Indonesian military.[3]

East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum edit

The United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) was established to organise and conduct a referendum on the question of independence. It was composed of police and observers rather than military personnel. The UN-sponsored referendum held on 30 August 1999 showed overwhelming approval for East Timorese independence from Indonesia. After the result was announced on 4 September, violent clashes, instigated by a suspected anti-independence militia, sparked a humanitarian and security crisis in the region, with Xanana Gusmão calling for a UN peacekeeping force the same day.[5] Many East Timorese were killed, with as many as 500,000 displaced and around half fleeing the territory.[1]

On 6 September, Operation Spitfire commenced with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft evacuating UNAMET staff, foreign nationals and refugees, including Bishop Belo, to Darwin from Dili and Baucau airfields with protection provided by unarmed Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) soldiers.[6]

United Nations resolution edit

The violence was met with widespread public anger in Australia, Portugal and elsewhere, and activists in Portugal, Australia, the United States and other nations pressured their governments to take action. Australia's Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Laurie Brereton, was vocal in highlighting evidence of the Indonesian military's involvement in pro-integrationist violence and advocated United Nations peacekeeping to support the East Timor's ballot.[7] The Catholic Church in Australia urged the Australian Government to send an armed peacekeeping force to East Timor to end the violence.[8] Protests occurred outside the Indonesia Consulate in Darwin and the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra.[9][10]

The Australian prime minister, John Howard, gained the support of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and U.S. President Bill Clinton for an Australian-led international peacekeeping force to enter East Timor to end the violence. On 12 September, Clinton announced:[11]

[T]he Indonesian military has aided and abetted militia violence in East Timor, in violation of the commitment of its leaders to the international community. This has allowed the militias to murder innocent people, to send thousands fleeing for their lives, to attack the United Nations compound. The United States has suspended all military cooperation, assistance, and sales to Indonesia ... The Indonesian Government and military must not only stop what they are doing but reverse course. They must halt the violence not just in Dili but throughout the nation. They must permit humanitarian assistance and let the U.N. mission do its job ... We are ready to support an effort led by Australia to mobilize a multinational force to help to bring security to East Timor under U.N. auspice ... the eyes of the world are on that tiny place and on those poor innocent, suffering people.

 
Return of Xanana Gusmão from Indonesian prison (1999)

Indonesia, in dire economic straits, relented. Under international pressure to allow an international peacekeeping force, President B.J. Habibie announced on 12 September that he would do so.[12] He told a press conference:[3]

A couple of minutes ago I called the United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, to inform about our readiness to accept international peacekeeping forces through the United Nations, from friendly nations, to restore peace and security in East Timor.

On 15 September 1999, the United Nations Security Council expressed concern at the deteriorating situation in East Timor and issued its Resolution 1264 calling for a multinational force to restore peace and security to East Timor, to protect and support the United Nations mission there, and to facilitate humanitarian assistance operations until such time as a United Nations peacekeeping force could be approved and deployed in the area.[13] The resolution also welcomed Australia's letter to accept the leadership of a proposed multinational force in East Timor and to make a substantial contribution to the force itself.[14]

Military operations edit

The lead-up to the operation remained politically and militarily tense. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) re-deployed frontline combat aircraft—F/A-18s and F-111s—northward to Tindal in the Northern Territory to act as a deterrent against escalation of the conflict by the Indonesian military and provide close air support and air defence in support of the landing if required. P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft were also deployed.[15] At peak strength the RAAF aerial support assets available to INTERFET included 10 F-111s, 12 F/A-18s, five P-3C Orions, three B707 aerial refuelling tankers, two B200 King Airs, three PC-9A forward control aircraft, and a Falcon F900 VIP jet.[16] Also in support was a significant airlift group, with Australian transport aircraft including thirteen C-130 Hercules and three DHC-4 Caribou. New Zealand deployed C-130 Hercules, Bell UH-1H Hueys, and A-4K Skyhawks to RAAF Base Tindal to support RAAF F-111s. In addition, a number of British, United States, Canadian, French and Thai aircraft were also deployed.[17][18] On at least one occasion Australian P-3C aircraft were intercepted by Indonesian aircraft,[19] while an Indonesian submarine was also detected by Coalition surveillance within the vicinity of Dili Harbour as INTERFET forces approached. Ultimately no serious incidents occurred and the intervention was successful; however, Australia–Indonesia relations would take several years to recover.[3]

 
HMAS Jervis Bay in Dili in October 1999

Of the 22 nations involved in INTERFET, 10 provided naval assets. Australia was the single largest provider, with 14 ships deployed with INTERFET between 19 September 1999 and 23 February 2000: the frigates Adelaide, Anzac, Darwin, Sydney, Newcastle, and Melbourne; the landing ship Tobruk, the landing craft Balikpapan, Brunei, Labuan, Tarakan, and Betano; the fast transport Jervis Bay; and the replenishment vessel Success. The United States contributed seven ships: the cruiser Mobile Bay; the amphibious assault ships Belleau Wood, Peleliu, and Juneau; and the replenishment ships Kilauea, San Jose, and Tippecanoe. France supplied four vessels: the frigates Vendémiaire and Prairial plus the landing ships Siroco and Jacques Cartier. Singapore contributed the amphibious landing ships Excellence, Intrepid, and Perseverance. New Zealand deployed the frigates Te Kaha and Canterbury and the replenishment ship Endeavour. Other naval vessels deployed during the operation included the Canadian replenishment ship Protecteur, the Italian amphibious assault ship San Giusto, the Portuguese frigate Vasco da Gama, the Thai landing ship Surin, and the British destroyer Glasgow.[20]

The International Forces East Timor (INTERFET) coalition began deploying to East Timor on 20 September 1999, as a non-UN force operating in accordance with UN Resolutions. Led by Australia, who contributed 5,500 personnel and the force commander, Major General Peter Cosgrove, it was tasked with restoring peace and security, protecting and supporting UNAMET, and facilitating humanitarian assistance.[1] The Australian Deployable Joint Force Headquarters provided overall command and control.[21] The main Australian combat element included infantry and cavalry provided by the 3rd Brigade.[21] Due to the nature of the operation the force deployed without its artillery and other heavy weapons and equipment; however, 105 mm and 155 mm guns and Leopard tanks were available and on standby in Darwin for rapid deployment if required.[22] It was supported by the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, 103rd Signals Squadron, 110th Signals Squadron, and elements of the 3rd Brigade Administrative Support Battalion.[21] Twelve Black Hawk helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment were also deployed. Other force level troops included military police, an intelligence company, an electronic warfare squadron, elements of an artillery locating battery, and topographic survey personnel.[21]

Special forces played a key role, with an Australian squadron from the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), a troop from the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) and a troop from the British Special Boat Service (SBS) forming Response Force (RESPFOR).[23] The SASR flew into Dili by RAAF C-130H Hercules securing Komoro Airport followed by NZSAS and SBS. With the airhead secured, infantry from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) then flew in from Darwin supported by two M-113 armoured personnel carriers from B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment. RESPFOR began vehicle patrols into Dili, including reconnaissance of Dili port, after which a rifle company from 2 RAR—borrowing Indonesian military trucks for transport—secured the port prior to the arrival of follow-on forces the next day, while the remainder of the battalion consolidated the position at Komoro. Meanwhile, an advance party of Gurkhas from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR) and British Royal Marines Commandos from the Fleet Standby Rifle Troop (FSRT) secured the foothills and areas to the south of the city. 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) began landing the next day at the port, along with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment equipped with ASLAV light armoured vehicles and the remainder of the Company Group from 2 RGR arrived. No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron (2AFDS) arrived the following day to permanently secure Komoro airport replacing 2 RAR. Additional Australian forces and support personnel arrived in the days that followed as INTERFET continued to grow, as did forces from a number of other countries, in particular from New Zealand.[24]

 
USAF C-130 taking off from Darwin for a mission to East Timor

Most United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) personnel had already been evacuated from the region in the preceding months by the Royal Australian Air Force, although a small number had remained behind.[25] With the withdrawal of the Indonesian forces and officials, UNAMET re-established its headquarters in Dili on 28 September and on 19 October 1999, Indonesia formally recognised the result of the independence referendum. Soon after, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established as a peacekeeping operation which was also fully responsible for the administration of East Timor to oversee its transition to independence.[1] With only limited forces available, Cosgrove adopted the 'oil spot' concept of dominating key areas from which the surrounding areas could be influenced and then secured, moving quickly by helicopter to keep the militia off balance. The large airfield at Baucau was secured by two platoons from 2 RAR on 22 September, who were relieved by the Philippine Army non-combat contingent known as the Philippine Humanitarian Support Mission to East Timor (PhilHSMET) three days later.[26]

On 26 September D Company, 2 RAR conducted an air-mobile insertion into Liquica, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) returning to Dili about 30 hours later.[27][26] On 29 September, the first New Zealand infantry arrived in Dili with V Company from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR) together with four M-113 APCs from the Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles. With Dili secured INTERFET began moving into the western regencies.[24] On 1 October 2 RAR flew in to simultaneously secure Balibo and Batugade, near the western border. Mounted in APCs, elements of the battalion then secured Maliana, before clearing the remainder of the Bobonaro Regency.[28]

 
Irish Army Ranger Wing (ARW) on patrol in East Timor

On 6 October, an armoured column of Gurkhas and RESPFOR entered Suai together with RESPFOR in Black Hawks, capturing 116 militia; however, a number of SASR personnel were later ambushed, resulting in two Australians wounded. In the counter-attack two militia were killed, while two escaped but were later found to have died of wounds.[26][29][30] Meanwhile, a third Australian battalion—the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR)—had arrived in Dili relieving 3 RAR. On 10 October, 3 RAR was inserted into Bobonaro and Maliana by helicopter and V Company, 1 RNZIR was inserted in Suai also by Black Hawks relieving the Gurkhas/RESPFOR. The same day a platoon from 2 RAR was fired on by Indonesian police near Mota'ain on the border, and in the ensuing clash one Indonesian was killed.[26]

On 13 October, a major amphibious operation was launched at Suai with the bulk of Headquarters 3rd Brigade (renamed Headquarters West Force) logistic and support units landed.[31] West Force (WESTFOR) consisting of 2RAR, 3RAR, and 1RNZIR, in addition to supporting aviation, engineer and armoured units, was tasked with securing the border region.[32] By 22 October, the 1 RNZIR Battalion Group was fully deployed which included a Canadian infantry company from 3rd Battalion, Royal 22 Regiment and a platoon of Irish special forces from the Army Ranger Wing supported by No. 3 Squadron RNZAF Iroquois helicopters.[33] From mid-October contingents from a number of other countries began to arrive, including battalions from Thailand and South Korea, which were deployed in the eastern part of the country.[33]

The arrival of thousands of international troops in East Timor caused the militia to flee across the border into Indonesia. A major contact at Aidabasalala, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the West Timor border, occurred on 16 October 1999. The action, involving an Australian covert reconnaissance patrol from the SASR, saw the Australians repeatedly attacked in a series of fire-fights by a group of more than 20 militia. The SASR patrol had been detected whilst establishing an observation post and were forced to fight their way to a landing zone, being attacked a further three times over a one-and-a-half hour period, killing a number of their attackers before they were successfully extracted by Black Hawk helicopter. Five militia were killed and three wounded, whilst there were no Australian casualties.[34] Later, intelligence reports speculated on the involvement of Indonesian military personnel in the attempt to cut off and destroy the Australians, whilst conjecture as to the identity of the pro-Indonesian militias and the source of their arms and training increased in the media.[35][Note 1]

 
New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) escorting a port survey team in East Timor

On 21 October 1999, INTERFET launched a combined amphibious and airmobile operation into the Oecussi Enclave, which was the last part of the country to be secured. Following covert reconnaissance of militia activity in the previous weeks, a number of special forces teams from RESPFOR were inserted by Black Hawk helicopter around Port Makasa to secure the beachhead.[39] Meanwhile, Australian Navy Clearance divers infiltrated the area aboard the Collins-class submarine HMAS Waller, conducting a covert beach reconnaissance ahead of the amphibious landing. The following day mechanised infantry from the 5/7 RAR conducted a beach landing at first light.[40] RESPFOR subsequently secured Ambeno. Reinforced by Gurkhas from 2 RGR, the force then swept through the area, capturing a number of militia while the remainder were believed to have fled to West Timor.[41] In mid-November, 3 RAR took over responsibility for the Oecussi Enclave.[42]

On 28 February 2000, INTERFET handed over command of military operations to United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).[31] A New Zealand soldier, Private Leonard Manning, was shot dead during a contact on 24 July 2000, becoming the first combat fatality since the United Nations-backed forces had arrived in September.[43] Manning was killed in the south-west town of Suai when his patrol was attacked by a group of militia.[44] Grenades and claymore mines had been withdrawn from New Zealand's forces after the UN took over, a change which was rescinded after Manning's death.[45] Two Australian soldiers also died in East Timor in 2000—Lance Corporal Russell Eisenhuth through illness on 17 January and Corporal Stuart Jones after a weapon accidentally discharged on 10 August 2000.[46]

Countries contributing to INTERFET edit

 
Commander INTERFET, Major General Cosgrove, joins hands with the new East Timor leadership during a celebration to mark the official handover to UNTAET.

Australia provided the largest contingent of troops, hardware and equipment for the INTERFET operation—5,500 personnel at its peak—followed by New Zealand.[47] New Zealand's contribution peaked at 1,200 personnel.[48] It was New Zealand's largest overseas military deployment since the Korean War.[49] Eventually 22 nations contributed to INTERFET which grew to over 11,500 strong.[50][21] Other countries to contribute include (in alphabetical order), Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.[51] Australia was refused US ground troops but was able to secure vital support for airlift, logistics, specialised intelligence, over the horizon deterrence, and "diplomatic muscle".[3][50] Participants were awarded the International Force East Timor Medal by the Australian Government.[52]

As lead nation Australia provided logistic support for a number of other nations in addition to its own requirements.[53] A Force Logistic Support Group was deployed during October and November based on the 10th Force Support Battalion (10 FSB), which included supply, transport, port operators, water transport and maintenance personnel, while a forward surgical team, preventative medical section, signals squadron, and engineers from the 17th Construction Squadron and a section of the 19th Chief Engineer Works were also attached. Meanwhile, the 9th Force Support Battalion was deployed to Darwin to provide additional support, and later rotated with 10 FSB in East Timor.[54]

Despite the proximity of considerable civilian and military infrastructure in Darwin, the provision of this support proved a major challenge for Australia, which had not been required to provide full logistic support for a deployed force since the Second World War. Reductions in defence spending over the previous decade had led to the run down of its logistic support force, resulting in the requirement to quickly implement a range of ad hoc measures to overcome these shortfalls.[55] Despite relatively short lines of communication, low expenditure of ammunition, fuel and other consumables, and limited personnel and equipment casualties, the operation strained the ADF's limited logistic capability and it was questionable whether it could have sustained a more high intensity deployment.[56]

See also edit

Notes edit

Footnotes

  1. ^ Sporadic cross-border raids by the militia in 2000 following the hand-over to UNTAET led to further suspicion that the militia had the tacit support of elements of the Indonesian military, or that at the least their actions were being tolerated by them.[36] Heightened activity occurred between July and September 2000, particularly in the southern border held by the New Zealand Army, which resulted in the death of one New Zealand soldier and one from Nepal, as well as the wounding of three others. Several militia were later killed in action in a series of ambushes initiated by the New Zealanders.[37][38]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d "Australians and Peacekeeping". War History. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  2. ^ Gunderson 2015, p. 15.
  3. ^ a b c d e f . Program Transcript. Australian Broadcasting Commission. 24 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  4. ^ Connery 2010, pp. 147–148.
  5. ^ "Timor chooses independence". BBC News. 4 September 1999.
  6. ^ Horner 2002, pp. 483–489.
  7. ^ Kirk, Alexandra (15 September 1999). "ALP wants commission to gather evidence of war crimes". Transcript - AM Archive. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  8. ^ Nelson, Jane (6 September 1999). "Australia churches, unions rally against Indonesia". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 July 2013.
  9. ^ McIntyre 2013, p. 177.
  10. ^ Pietsch 2010, p. 17.
  11. ^ Clinton, William. . The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Habibie accepts Timor peacekeepers". BBC News. 12 September 1999.
  13. ^ "UN approves Timor force". BBC News. 15 September 1999.
  14. ^ "Security Council authorises multinational force in East Timor". United Nations. 15 September 1999.
  15. ^ Wilson 2003, p. 32.
  16. ^ Wilson 2003, p. 34.
  17. ^ Wilson 2003, pp. 13–15.
  18. ^ "RAAF units in East Timor". East Timor, 1999–2000 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  19. ^ Wilson 2003, pp. 32–33.
  20. ^ Stevens 2007, pp. 14–15.
  21. ^ a b c d e Horner 2001, p. 22.
  22. ^ Horner 2001, p. 24.
  23. ^ Horner 2001, p. 20.
  24. ^ a b Farrell 2000, pp. 4–21.
  25. ^ Londey 2004, pp. 240–241.
  26. ^ a b c d Horner 2001, p. 28.
  27. ^ Farrell 2000, pp. 21–22.
  28. ^ Farrell 2000, pp. 43–46.
  29. ^ Breen 2000, p. 70.
  30. ^ Londey 2004, p. 250.
  31. ^ a b Horner 2001, p. 29.
  32. ^ Farrell 2000, p. 55.
  33. ^ a b Farrell 2000, p. 57.
  34. ^ Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 296.
  35. ^ Farrell 2000, pp. 56–57.
  36. ^ Tanter, Selden & Shalom 2001, pp. 249–250.
  37. ^ Londey 2004, p. 259.
  38. ^ Crawford & Harper 2001, pp. 136–139.
  39. ^ Farrell 2000, pp. 65.
  40. ^ Farrell 2000, p. 66.
  41. ^ Farrell 2000, pp. 65–67.
  42. ^ Dennis et al 2008, p. 192.
  43. ^ "New Zealand soldier is shot dead in East Timor". The Independent. London. 25 July 2000. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  44. ^ "The World Today Archive - The UN's first combat casualty in East Timor". abc.net.au. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  45. ^ Smith 2005, p. 13.
  46. ^ Londey 2004, pp. 256 & 259.
  47. ^ Horner 2001, p. 9.
  48. ^ McGibbon 2000, p. 419.
  49. ^ Crawford & Harper 2001, p. 6.
  50. ^ a b Londey 2004, p. 244.
  51. ^ Ryan 2000, pp. 127–129.
  52. ^ . It's an Honour. Government of Australia. 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  53. ^ Horner 2001, p. 32.
  54. ^ Horner 2001, p. 23.
  55. ^ Horner 2001, pp. 32–33.
  56. ^ Horner 2001, p. 38.

References edit

  • Breen, Bob (2000). Mission Accomplished, East Timor: The Australian Defence Force Participation in the International Forces East Timor (INTERFET). Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1865084980.
  • Connery, David (2010). Crisis Policymaking: Australia and the East Timor Crisis of 1999. Canberra: ANU E Press. ISBN 9781921666575.
  • Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (Second ed.). Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-634-7.
  • Crawford, John; Harper, Glyn (2001). Operation East Timor: The New Zealand Defence Force in East Timor 1999– 2001. Auckland: Reed Publishing. ISBN 0790008238.
  • Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin; Bou, Jean (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195517842.
  • Farrell, John (2000). Peace Makers: INTERFETs Liberation of East Timor. Rocklea: Fullbore. ISBN 0-646-39424-X.
  • Gunderson, Shane (2015). Momentum and the East Timor Independence Movement: The Origins of America's Debate on East Timor. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books. ISBN 9781498502351.
  • Horner, David (2001). Making the Australian Defence Force. The Australian Centenary History of Defence. Vol. IV. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-554117-0.
  • Horner, David (2002). SAS: Phantoms of War. A History of the Australian Special Air Service (Second ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-647-9.
  • Londey, Peter (2004). Other People's Wars: A History of Australian Peacekeeping. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-651-7.
  • McGibbon, Ian, ed. (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558376-0.
  • McIntyre, Iain (2013). How to Make Trouble and Influence People: Pranks, Protests, Graffiti & Political Mischief-Making from Across Australia. Chicago: PM Press. ISBN 9781604868807.
  • Pietsch, Sam (2010). "Australian Imperialism and East Timor" (PDF). Marxist Interventions (2): 7–38. ISSN 1836-6597.
  • Ryan, Alan (2000). (PDF). Study Paper No. 304. Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory: Land Warfare Studies Centre. ISBN 9780642129512. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  • Smith, Ron (2005). The Death of Private Leonard Manning (PDF). Hamilton: Department of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Waikato.
  • Stevens, David (2007). Strength Through Diversity: The Combined Naval Role in Operation Stabilise (PDF). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Sea Power Centre – Australia. ISBN 978-0-642-29676-4.
  • Tanter, Richard; Selden, Mark; Shalom, Stephen Rosskamm, eds. (2001). Bitter Flowers, Sweet Flowers: East Timor, Indonesia, and the World Community. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780742509689.
  • Wilson, David (2003). Warden to Tanager: RAAF Operations in East Timor. Maryborough, Queensland: Banner Books. ISBN 1-875593-26-8.

Further reading edit

  • Blaxland, John, ed. (2015). East Timor Intervention: A Retrospective on INTERFET. Carlton, Victoria: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522867763.
  • Martin, Ian; Alexander Mayer-Rieckh (Spring 2005). "The United Nations and East Timor: From Self-Determination to State-Building". International Peacekeeping. 12 (1): 125–145. doi:10.1080/1353331042000286595. S2CID 143653698.
  • O'Hanlon, Peter (2022). World War Bloody Timor. Newport, NSW, Australia: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 9781922615695.
  • Pemper, Tammy (2019). Scorched Earth: Peacekeeping in Timor during a campaign of death and destruction. Newport, NSW, Australia: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 9781922265432.
  • Robinson, Geoffrey (2010). "If You Leave Us Here, We Will Die": How Genocide Was Stopped in East Timor. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691135366.
  • Stockings, Craig (2022). Born of Fire and Ash: Australian Operations in Response to the East Timor Crisis 1999-2000. The Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq & Afghanistan and Australian Peacekeeping Operations in East Timor, Volume I. Sydney: NewSouth Publishing. ISBN 9781742236230.

External links edit

  • Australian Defence Department INTERFET website, archived on the Pandora Archive on 7 November 2000
  • A Brief History of Australian Army Operations in East Timor, 1999–2005
  • on NZDF website
  • "Call to Arms: The Liberation of East Timor" by ABC Australia

international, force, east, timor, interfet, multinational, united, nations, peacemaking, task, force, organised, australia, accordance, with, united, nations, resolutions, address, humanitarian, security, crisis, that, took, place, east, timor, from, 1999, 20. The International Force East Timor INTERFET was a multinational non United Nations peacemaking task force organised and led by Australia in accordance with United Nations resolutions to address the humanitarian and security crisis that took place in East Timor from 1999 2000 until the arrival of UN peacekeepers 1 INTERFET was commanded by an Australian military officer Major General Peter Cosgrove International Force East TimorLogo of INTERFETAlso known asINTERFETLeaderMajor General Peter CosgroveDates of operationSeptember 20 1999 1999 09 20 February 20 2000 2000 02 20 CountrySee listAllegiance AustraliaStatusHanded over command of military operations to UNTAETSize11 500 personnel at the peak of deployment Battles and wars1999 East Timorese crisisSucceeded byUNTAET Contents 1 Background 2 East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum 3 United Nations resolution 4 Military operations 5 Countries contributing to INTERFET 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksBackground editIndonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed the former Portuguese colony The annexation was recognised by few nations including Australia and the United States and was resisted by many East Timorese Cold War security concerns were emphasised 2 while foreign powers also placed high importance on good relations with Indonesia and were largely reluctant to assist a push for independence as a result However following the fall of long serving Indonesian President Suharto the new president B J Habibie was prepared to grant East Timor special autonomy 3 In late 1998 the Australian prime minister John Howard with his foreign minister Alexander Downer drafted a letter to Habibie supporting the idea of autonomy but incorporating a suggestion that the long term issue of East Timorese self determination could best be defused by providing the East Timorese with an opportunity for a plebiscite after a substantial period of autonomy The explicit comparison was with the Matignon Accords involving France and New Caledonia 4 The letter upset Habibie who saw it as implying Indonesia was a colonial power and he decided in response to announce a snap referendum to be conducted within six months 3 News of the proposal provoked a violent reaction from pro Indonesian militia in East Timor The Indonesian army did not intervene to restore order At a summit in Bali Howard told Habibie that a United Nations peacekeeping force should oversee the process Habibie rejected the proposal believing it would have insulted the Indonesian military 3 East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum editSee also East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum The United Nations Mission in East Timor UNAMET was established to organise and conduct a referendum on the question of independence It was composed of police and observers rather than military personnel The UN sponsored referendum held on 30 August 1999 showed overwhelming approval for East Timorese independence from Indonesia After the result was announced on 4 September violent clashes instigated by a suspected anti independence militia sparked a humanitarian and security crisis in the region with Xanana Gusmao calling for a UN peacekeeping force the same day 5 Many East Timorese were killed with as many as 500 000 displaced and around half fleeing the territory 1 On 6 September Operation Spitfire commenced with Royal Australian Air Force RAAF C 130 Hercules aircraft evacuating UNAMET staff foreign nationals and refugees including Bishop Belo to Darwin from Dili and Baucau airfields with protection provided by unarmed Special Air Service Regiment SASR soldiers 6 United Nations resolution editThe violence was met with widespread public anger in Australia Portugal and elsewhere and activists in Portugal Australia the United States and other nations pressured their governments to take action Australia s Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs Laurie Brereton was vocal in highlighting evidence of the Indonesian military s involvement in pro integrationist violence and advocated United Nations peacekeeping to support the East Timor s ballot 7 The Catholic Church in Australia urged the Australian Government to send an armed peacekeeping force to East Timor to end the violence 8 Protests occurred outside the Indonesia Consulate in Darwin and the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra 9 10 The Australian prime minister John Howard gained the support of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and U S President Bill Clinton for an Australian led international peacekeeping force to enter East Timor to end the violence On 12 September Clinton announced 11 T he Indonesian military has aided and abetted militia violence in East Timor in violation of the commitment of its leaders to the international community This has allowed the militias to murder innocent people to send thousands fleeing for their lives to attack the United Nations compound The United States has suspended all military cooperation assistance and sales to Indonesia The Indonesian Government and military must not only stop what they are doing but reverse course They must halt the violence not just in Dili but throughout the nation They must permit humanitarian assistance and let the U N mission do its job We are ready to support an effort led by Australia to mobilize a multinational force to help to bring security to East Timor under U N auspice the eyes of the world are on that tiny place and on those poor innocent suffering people nbsp Return of Xanana Gusmao from Indonesian prison 1999 Indonesia in dire economic straits relented Under international pressure to allow an international peacekeeping force President B J Habibie announced on 12 September that he would do so 12 He told a press conference 3 A couple of minutes ago I called the United Nations Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan to inform about our readiness to accept international peacekeeping forces through the United Nations from friendly nations to restore peace and security in East Timor On 15 September 1999 the United Nations Security Council expressed concern at the deteriorating situation in East Timor and issued its Resolution 1264 calling for a multinational force to restore peace and security to East Timor to protect and support the United Nations mission there and to facilitate humanitarian assistance operations until such time as a United Nations peacekeeping force could be approved and deployed in the area 13 The resolution also welcomed Australia s letter to accept the leadership of a proposed multinational force in East Timor and to make a substantial contribution to the force itself 14 Military operations editThe lead up to the operation remained politically and militarily tense The Royal Australian Air Force RAAF re deployed frontline combat aircraft F A 18s and F 111s northward to Tindal in the Northern Territory to act as a deterrent against escalation of the conflict by the Indonesian military and provide close air support and air defence in support of the landing if required P 3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft were also deployed 15 At peak strength the RAAF aerial support assets available to INTERFET included 10 F 111s 12 F A 18s five P 3C Orions three B707 aerial refuelling tankers two B200 King Airs three PC 9A forward control aircraft and a Falcon F900 VIP jet 16 Also in support was a significant airlift group with Australian transport aircraft including thirteen C 130 Hercules and three DHC 4 Caribou New Zealand deployed C 130 Hercules Bell UH 1H Hueys and A 4K Skyhawks to RAAF Base Tindal to support RAAF F 111s In addition a number of British United States Canadian French and Thai aircraft were also deployed 17 18 On at least one occasion Australian P 3C aircraft were intercepted by Indonesian aircraft 19 while an Indonesian submarine was also detected by Coalition surveillance within the vicinity of Dili Harbour as INTERFET forces approached Ultimately no serious incidents occurred and the intervention was successful however Australia Indonesia relations would take several years to recover 3 nbsp HMAS Jervis Bay in Dili in October 1999Of the 22 nations involved in INTERFET 10 provided naval assets Australia was the single largest provider with 14 ships deployed with INTERFET between 19 September 1999 and 23 February 2000 the frigates Adelaide Anzac Darwin Sydney Newcastle and Melbourne the landing ship Tobruk the landing craft Balikpapan Brunei Labuan Tarakan and Betano the fast transport Jervis Bay and the replenishment vessel Success The United States contributed seven ships the cruiser Mobile Bay the amphibious assault ships Belleau Wood Peleliu and Juneau and the replenishment ships Kilauea San Jose and Tippecanoe France supplied four vessels the frigates Vendemiaire and Prairial plus the landing ships Siroco and Jacques Cartier Singapore contributed the amphibious landing ships Excellence Intrepid and Perseverance New Zealand deployed the frigates Te Kaha and Canterbury and the replenishment ship Endeavour Other naval vessels deployed during the operation included the Canadian replenishment ship Protecteur the Italian amphibious assault ship San Giusto the Portuguese frigate Vasco da Gama the Thai landing ship Surin and the British destroyer Glasgow 20 The International Forces East Timor INTERFET coalition began deploying to East Timor on 20 September 1999 as a non UN force operating in accordance with UN Resolutions Led by Australia who contributed 5 500 personnel and the force commander Major General Peter Cosgrove it was tasked with restoring peace and security protecting and supporting UNAMET and facilitating humanitarian assistance 1 The Australian Deployable Joint Force Headquarters provided overall command and control 21 The main Australian combat element included infantry and cavalry provided by the 3rd Brigade 21 Due to the nature of the operation the force deployed without its artillery and other heavy weapons and equipment however 105 mm and 155 mm guns and Leopard tanks were available and on standby in Darwin for rapid deployment if required 22 It was supported by the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment 103rd Signals Squadron 110th Signals Squadron and elements of the 3rd Brigade Administrative Support Battalion 21 Twelve Black Hawk helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment were also deployed Other force level troops included military police an intelligence company an electronic warfare squadron elements of an artillery locating battery and topographic survey personnel 21 Special forces played a key role with an Australian squadron from the Special Air Service Regiment SASR a troop from the New Zealand Special Air Service NZSAS and a troop from the British Special Boat Service SBS forming Response Force RESPFOR 23 The SASR flew into Dili by RAAF C 130H Hercules securing Komoro Airport followed by NZSAS and SBS With the airhead secured infantry from the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment 2 RAR then flew in from Darwin supported by two M 113 armoured personnel carriers from B Squadron 3rd 4th Cavalry Regiment RESPFOR began vehicle patrols into Dili including reconnaissance of Dili port after which a rifle company from 2 RAR borrowing Indonesian military trucks for transport secured the port prior to the arrival of follow on forces the next day while the remainder of the battalion consolidated the position at Komoro Meanwhile an advance party of Gurkhas from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles 2 RGR and British Royal Marines Commandos from the Fleet Standby Rifle Troop FSRT secured the foothills and areas to the south of the city 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment 3 RAR began landing the next day at the port along with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment equipped with ASLAV light armoured vehicles and the remainder of the Company Group from 2 RGR arrived No 2 Airfield Defence Squadron 2AFDS arrived the following day to permanently secure Komoro airport replacing 2 RAR Additional Australian forces and support personnel arrived in the days that followed as INTERFET continued to grow as did forces from a number of other countries in particular from New Zealand 24 nbsp USAF C 130 taking off from Darwin for a mission to East TimorMost United Nations Mission in East Timor UNAMET personnel had already been evacuated from the region in the preceding months by the Royal Australian Air Force although a small number had remained behind 25 With the withdrawal of the Indonesian forces and officials UNAMET re established its headquarters in Dili on 28 September and on 19 October 1999 Indonesia formally recognised the result of the independence referendum Soon after the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor UNTAET was established as a peacekeeping operation which was also fully responsible for the administration of East Timor to oversee its transition to independence 1 With only limited forces available Cosgrove adopted the oil spot concept of dominating key areas from which the surrounding areas could be influenced and then secured moving quickly by helicopter to keep the militia off balance The large airfield at Baucau was secured by two platoons from 2 RAR on 22 September who were relieved by the Philippine Army non combat contingent known as the Philippine Humanitarian Support Mission to East Timor PhilHSMET three days later 26 On 26 September D Company 2 RAR conducted an air mobile insertion into Liquica approximately 30 kilometres 19 mi returning to Dili about 30 hours later 27 26 On 29 September the first New Zealand infantry arrived in Dili with V Company from the 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment 1 RNZIR together with four M 113 APCs from the Queen Alexandra s Mounted Rifles With Dili secured INTERFET began moving into the western regencies 24 On 1 October 2 RAR flew in to simultaneously secure Balibo and Batugade near the western border Mounted in APCs elements of the battalion then secured Maliana before clearing the remainder of the Bobonaro Regency 28 nbsp Irish Army Ranger Wing ARW on patrol in East TimorOn 6 October an armoured column of Gurkhas and RESPFOR entered Suai together with RESPFOR in Black Hawks capturing 116 militia however a number of SASR personnel were later ambushed resulting in two Australians wounded In the counter attack two militia were killed while two escaped but were later found to have died of wounds 26 29 30 Meanwhile a third Australian battalion the 5th 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment 5 7 RAR had arrived in Dili relieving 3 RAR On 10 October 3 RAR was inserted into Bobonaro and Maliana by helicopter and V Company 1 RNZIR was inserted in Suai also by Black Hawks relieving the Gurkhas RESPFOR The same day a platoon from 2 RAR was fired on by Indonesian police near Mota ain on the border and in the ensuing clash one Indonesian was killed 26 On 13 October a major amphibious operation was launched at Suai with the bulk of Headquarters 3rd Brigade renamed Headquarters West Force logistic and support units landed 31 West Force WESTFOR consisting of 2RAR 3RAR and 1RNZIR in addition to supporting aviation engineer and armoured units was tasked with securing the border region 32 By 22 October the 1 RNZIR Battalion Group was fully deployed which included a Canadian infantry company from 3rd Battalion Royal 22 Regiment and a platoon of Irish special forces from the Army Ranger Wing supported by No 3 Squadron RNZAF Iroquois helicopters 33 From mid October contingents from a number of other countries began to arrive including battalions from Thailand and South Korea which were deployed in the eastern part of the country 33 The arrival of thousands of international troops in East Timor caused the militia to flee across the border into Indonesia A major contact at Aidabasalala 15 kilometres 9 3 mi from the West Timor border occurred on 16 October 1999 The action involving an Australian covert reconnaissance patrol from the SASR saw the Australians repeatedly attacked in a series of fire fights by a group of more than 20 militia The SASR patrol had been detected whilst establishing an observation post and were forced to fight their way to a landing zone being attacked a further three times over a one and a half hour period killing a number of their attackers before they were successfully extracted by Black Hawk helicopter Five militia were killed and three wounded whilst there were no Australian casualties 34 Later intelligence reports speculated on the involvement of Indonesian military personnel in the attempt to cut off and destroy the Australians whilst conjecture as to the identity of the pro Indonesian militias and the source of their arms and training increased in the media 35 Note 1 nbsp New Zealand Special Air Service SAS escorting a port survey team in East TimorOn 21 October 1999 INTERFET launched a combined amphibious and airmobile operation into the Oecussi Enclave which was the last part of the country to be secured Following covert reconnaissance of militia activity in the previous weeks a number of special forces teams from RESPFOR were inserted by Black Hawk helicopter around Port Makasa to secure the beachhead 39 Meanwhile Australian Navy Clearance divers infiltrated the area aboard the Collins class submarine HMAS Waller conducting a covert beach reconnaissance ahead of the amphibious landing The following day mechanised infantry from the 5 7 RAR conducted a beach landing at first light 40 RESPFOR subsequently secured Ambeno Reinforced by Gurkhas from 2 RGR the force then swept through the area capturing a number of militia while the remainder were believed to have fled to West Timor 41 In mid November 3 RAR took over responsibility for the Oecussi Enclave 42 On 28 February 2000 INTERFET handed over command of military operations to United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor UNTAET 31 A New Zealand soldier Private Leonard Manning was shot dead during a contact on 24 July 2000 becoming the first combat fatality since the United Nations backed forces had arrived in September 43 Manning was killed in the south west town of Suai when his patrol was attacked by a group of militia 44 Grenades and claymore mines had been withdrawn from New Zealand s forces after the UN took over a change which was rescinded after Manning s death 45 Two Australian soldiers also died in East Timor in 2000 Lance Corporal Russell Eisenhuth through illness on 17 January and Corporal Stuart Jones after a weapon accidentally discharged on 10 August 2000 46 Countries contributing to INTERFET editMain article INTERFET logistics nbsp Commander INTERFET Major General Cosgrove joins hands with the new East Timor leadership during a celebration to mark the official handover to UNTAET Australia provided the largest contingent of troops hardware and equipment for the INTERFET operation 5 500 personnel at its peak followed by New Zealand 47 New Zealand s contribution peaked at 1 200 personnel 48 It was New Zealand s largest overseas military deployment since the Korean War 49 Eventually 22 nations contributed to INTERFET which grew to over 11 500 strong 50 21 Other countries to contribute include in alphabetical order Bangladesh Brazil Canada Denmark Egypt Fiji France Germany Ireland Italy Jordan Kenya Malaysia Norway Philippines Portugal Singapore South Korea Thailand the United Kingdom and the United States of America 51 Australia was refused US ground troops but was able to secure vital support for airlift logistics specialised intelligence over the horizon deterrence and diplomatic muscle 3 50 Participants were awarded the International Force East Timor Medal by the Australian Government 52 As lead nation Australia provided logistic support for a number of other nations in addition to its own requirements 53 A Force Logistic Support Group was deployed during October and November based on the 10th Force Support Battalion 10 FSB which included supply transport port operators water transport and maintenance personnel while a forward surgical team preventative medical section signals squadron and engineers from the 17th Construction Squadron and a section of the 19th Chief Engineer Works were also attached Meanwhile the 9th Force Support Battalion was deployed to Darwin to provide additional support and later rotated with 10 FSB in East Timor 54 Despite the proximity of considerable civilian and military infrastructure in Darwin the provision of this support proved a major challenge for Australia which had not been required to provide full logistic support for a deployed force since the Second World War Reductions in defence spending over the previous decade had led to the run down of its logistic support force resulting in the requirement to quickly implement a range of ad hoc measures to overcome these shortfalls 55 Despite relatively short lines of communication low expenditure of ammunition fuel and other consumables and limited personnel and equipment casualties the operation strained the ADF s limited logistic capability and it was questionable whether it could have sustained a more high intensity deployment 56 See also edit nbsp East Timor portalHistory of East Timor United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor UNMISET Answered by Fire a 2006 television drama concerning the crisis which led to the INTERFET mission Coalition of the willing Australian Involvement in the East Timor InvasionNotes editFootnotes Sporadic cross border raids by the militia in 2000 following the hand over to UNTAET led to further suspicion that the militia had the tacit support of elements of the Indonesian military or that at the least their actions were being tolerated by them 36 Heightened activity occurred between July and September 2000 particularly in the southern border held by the New Zealand Army which resulted in the death of one New Zealand soldier and one from Nepal as well as the wounding of three others Several militia were later killed in action in a series of ambushes initiated by the New Zealanders 37 38 Citations a b c d Australians and Peacekeeping War History Australian War Memorial Retrieved 11 January 2015 Gunderson 2015 p 15 a b c d e f The Howard Years Episode 2 Whatever It Takes Program Transcript Australian Broadcasting Commission 24 November 2008 Archived from the original on 23 September 2010 Retrieved 19 October 2014 Connery 2010 pp 147 148 Timor chooses independence BBC News 4 September 1999 Horner 2002 pp 483 489 Kirk Alexandra 15 September 1999 ALP wants commission to gather evidence of war crimes Transcript AM Archive Australian Broadcasting Commission Retrieved 13 September 2015 Nelson Jane 6 September 1999 Australia churches unions rally against Indonesia Reuters Archived from the original on 16 July 2013 McIntyre 2013 p 177 Pietsch 2010 p 17 Clinton William Remarks to American and Asian Business Leaders in Auckland The American Presidency Project Archived from the original on 9 September 2018 Retrieved 9 September 2018 Habibie accepts Timor peacekeepers BBC News 12 September 1999 UN approves Timor force BBC News 15 September 1999 Security Council authorises multinational force in East Timor United Nations 15 September 1999 Wilson 2003 p 32 Wilson 2003 p 34 Wilson 2003 pp 13 15 RAAF units in East Timor East Timor 1999 2000 units Australian War Memorial Retrieved 19 October 2014 Wilson 2003 pp 32 33 Stevens 2007 pp 14 15 a b c d e Horner 2001 p 22 Horner 2001 p 24 Horner 2001 p 20 a b Farrell 2000 pp 4 21 Londey 2004 pp 240 241 a b c d Horner 2001 p 28 Farrell 2000 pp 21 22 Farrell 2000 pp 43 46 Breen 2000 p 70 Londey 2004 p 250 a b Horner 2001 p 29 Farrell 2000 p 55 a b Farrell 2000 p 57 Coulthard Clark 2001 p 296 Farrell 2000 pp 56 57 Tanter Selden amp Shalom 2001 pp 249 250 Londey 2004 p 259 Crawford amp Harper 2001 pp 136 139 Farrell 2000 pp 65 Farrell 2000 p 66 Farrell 2000 pp 65 67 Dennis et al 2008 p 192 New Zealand soldier is shot dead in East Timor The Independent London 25 July 2000 Retrieved 11 January 2015 The World Today Archive The UN s first combat casualty in East Timor abc net au Retrieved 16 January 2015 Smith 2005 p 13 Londey 2004 pp 256 amp 259 Horner 2001 p 9 McGibbon 2000 p 419 Crawford amp Harper 2001 p 6 a b Londey 2004 p 244 Ryan 2000 pp 127 129 International Force East Timor Medal It s an Honour Government of Australia 29 September 2008 Archived from the original on 5 March 2015 Retrieved 11 January 2015 Horner 2001 p 32 Horner 2001 p 23 Horner 2001 pp 32 33 Horner 2001 p 38 References editBreen Bob 2000 Mission Accomplished East Timor The Australian Defence Force Participation in the International Forces East Timor INTERFET Crows Nest New South Wales Allen amp Unwin ISBN 1865084980 Connery David 2010 Crisis Policymaking Australia and the East Timor Crisis of 1999 Canberra ANU E Press ISBN 9781921666575 Coulthard Clark Chris 2001 The Encyclopaedia of Australia s Battles Second ed Crows Nest Allen and Unwin ISBN 1 86508 634 7 Crawford John Harper Glyn 2001 Operation East Timor The New Zealand Defence Force in East Timor 1999 2001 Auckland Reed Publishing ISBN 0790008238 Dennis Peter Grey Jeffrey Morris Ewan Prior Robin Bou Jean 2008 The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History Second ed Melbourne Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0195517842 Farrell John 2000 Peace Makers INTERFETs Liberation of East Timor Rocklea Fullbore ISBN 0 646 39424 X Gunderson Shane 2015 Momentum and the East Timor Independence Movement The Origins of America s Debate on East Timor Lanham Maryland Lexington Books ISBN 9781498502351 Horner David 2001 Making the Australian Defence Force The Australian Centenary History of Defence Vol IV Melbourne Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 554117 0 Horner David 2002 SAS Phantoms of War A History of the Australian Special Air Service Second ed Sydney New South Wales Allen amp Unwin ISBN 1 86508 647 9 Londey Peter 2004 Other People s Wars A History of Australian Peacekeeping Crows Nest New South Wales Allen amp Unwin ISBN 1 86508 651 7 McGibbon Ian ed 2000 The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History Auckland Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 558376 0 McIntyre Iain 2013 How to Make Trouble and Influence People Pranks Protests Graffiti amp Political Mischief Making from Across Australia Chicago PM Press ISBN 9781604868807 Pietsch Sam 2010 Australian Imperialism and East Timor PDF Marxist Interventions 2 7 38 ISSN 1836 6597 Ryan Alan 2000 Primary Responsibilities and Primary Risks The Australian Defence Force Contribution to East Timor PDF Study Paper No 304 Duntroon Australian Capital Territory Land Warfare Studies Centre ISBN 9780642129512 Archived from the original PDF on 7 January 2015 Retrieved 7 January 2015 Smith Ron 2005 The Death of Private Leonard Manning PDF Hamilton Department of Political Science and Public Policy University of Waikato Stevens David 2007 Strength Through Diversity The Combined Naval Role in Operation Stabilise PDF Canberra Australian Capital Territory Sea Power Centre Australia ISBN 978 0 642 29676 4 Tanter Richard Selden Mark Shalom Stephen Rosskamm eds 2001 Bitter Flowers Sweet Flowers East Timor Indonesia and the World Community Lanham Maryland Rowman amp Littlefield ISBN 9780742509689 Wilson David 2003 Warden to Tanager RAAF Operations in East Timor Maryborough Queensland Banner Books ISBN 1 875593 26 8 Further reading editBlaxland John ed 2015 East Timor Intervention A Retrospective on INTERFET Carlton Victoria Melbourne University Press ISBN 9780522867763 Martin Ian Alexander Mayer Rieckh Spring 2005 The United Nations and East Timor From Self Determination to State Building International Peacekeeping 12 1 125 145 doi 10 1080 1353331042000286595 S2CID 143653698 O Hanlon Peter 2022 World War Bloody Timor Newport NSW Australia Big Sky Publishing ISBN 9781922615695 Pemper Tammy 2019 Scorched Earth Peacekeeping in Timor during a campaign of death and destruction Newport NSW Australia Big Sky Publishing ISBN 9781922265432 Robinson Geoffrey 2010 If You Leave Us Here We Will Die How Genocide Was Stopped in East Timor Princeton Princeton University Press ISBN 9780691135366 Stockings Craig 2022 Born of Fire and Ash Australian Operations in Response to the East Timor Crisis 1999 2000 The Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq amp Afghanistan and Australian Peacekeeping Operations in East Timor Volume I Sydney NewSouth Publishing ISBN 9781742236230 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to INTERFET Australian Defence Department INTERFET website archived on the Pandora Archive on 7 November 2000 A Brief History of Australian Army Operations in East Timor 1999 2005 INTERFET Military Personnel Chart Timor Leste on NZDF website Call to Arms The Liberation of East Timor by ABC Australia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title International Force East Timor amp oldid 1188334441, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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