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; UK embargo of military sales to Indonesia from 11 September 1999 to 11 April 2012; Australia embargo of military sales to Indonesia September 1999; European Union (EU) embargo of military sales to Indonesia 16 September 1999 – 17 January 2000;
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 #;	Wiranto; Eurico Guterres
Strength
11,000 military and police	13,000 militias
Casualties and losses
17 killed (UNTAET personnel) 49 UN staff and NGOs captured later released;	15–19 killed; 301+ captured;
	1,400 civilians killed; 220,000+ refugees; 2 journalists killed; 1 Indonesian soldier killed; 1 Indonesian police officer killed

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. At least 1,400 civilians are believed to have been murdered both before and after voting. A UN-authorized force (INTERFET) consisting mainly of Australian Defence Force personnel was deployed to East Timor to establish and maintain peace.