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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchivesGrade Level: 9-12
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Independence for East Timor
On August 30, 1999, citizens of East Timor were allowed by Indonesian
President B.J. Habibie to vote on a referendum for independence. 
Timor had been a Portuguese
colony until 1975, when Indonesian forces under the direction of President Suharto invaded
and later annexed the island. Some 200,000 people have died over the past 24 years in the
rebellion against often brutal Indonesian rule.
Nearly 80% of East Timorese voted in favor of independence. Almost immediately after the results were announced, pro-Indonesian militias supported by the Indonesian military began a campaign of violence to stop independence. Hundreds were killed in coordinated attacks on churches and other places of refuge, the capital city of Dili was burned and looted, and an estimated 200,000 East Timorese either fled or were forced from their homes (read Asiaweek's article Murderous Puppets).
A
week ago, an Australian-led international peacekeeping force entered the territory and
secured Dili. However, many towns outside the capital were razed by the angry militias as
they fled the well-armed peacekeepers. Today East Timor is in a state of destruction and
chaos. See CNN's Conflict
in East Timor- a timeline and East
Timor- Images of the past to see a gallery of images from the past 24 years.
In this online lesson you will learn more about East Timor and the violence surrounding the independence referendum.
East Timor: Past, Present and Future
For a broader introduction to East Timor and its history, particularly its occupation by Indonesia for the past 24 years, go to the East Timor: Past, Present and Future site. There's a lot of overview information here, and as you read you should follow the hyperlinks embedded in the text. Look for answers to these questions: Who is Xanana Gusmao and why was he imprisoned for 20 years? Why were there no celebrations in East Timor after the official announcement for independence? Who won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1996?
IFET
On
September 7, 1999, volunteers for the International
Federation for East Timor (IFET) Observer Project were forced to leave East
Timor because of the threat of rising violence. The IFET is the organization acting under
the direction of the UN to observe and verify the validity of the vote (which is referred
to as a "popular consultation"), and to make sure that the people are able to
make the decision in "an atmosphere free of coercion and terror." Read the
complete Project Description,
as well as the Principles &
Mandate.
Next, read the most recent Media Statement posted on September 7 describing the withdrawal of the IFET observers from East Timor. Also, read the other media statements listed, warning of militia violence as early as August 9th. In your opinion, what went wrong in East Timor? How is it that the violence was able to spread given the numerous warnings and signs of trouble?
East Timor Observatory
The
stated aim of the East
Timor Observatory is to "monitor East Timor's transition process, as
well as the negotiating process and its repercussions at international level, and the
developments in the situation inside the territory itself." There are a number of
subjects listed on the left; click each of them and read the information presented in the
frame on the right, paying special attention to the conclusions presented at the end. The
most recent subject, and one definitely worth studying, is the Voter registration phase
dated 1999/08/20, just prior to the elections. Were the conclusions presented accurate,
based on what you now know? To what extent do you feel UNAMET is responsible for the
violence, given the warnings about "the day after" retaliation following a
majority vote for independence?
UNAMET
Visit
the official Web site of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET). Study the
UNAMET Fact Sheet,
paying particular attention to the Mandate. Then study the Civic Education
Materials (English Version), which was used to instruct citizens of Timor on
procedures for the historic vote. Contrast these instructions with what you know of the
aftermath of the vote. Click the topics on the left to read the related instruction.
To finish this lesson, click the Humanitarian Response link and read the latest reports of organized aid efforts for East Timor.
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Learners Online, Inc.