International Force for East Timor

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Australian soldiers and police with an East Timorese civilian in February 2000

The International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) was a multinational peacekeeping taskforce, mandated by the United Nations to address the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from 1999–2000 until the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers.

The International Force for East Timor was commanded by (then) Major General Peter Cosgrove of the Australian Defence Force.

[edit] United Nations resolution

A UN-sponsored referendum held on 30 August 1999 had shown 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 peacekeeper force the same day.^[1]

Under international pressure to allow an international peacekeeping force, Indonesian president BJ Habibie announced on 12 September that he would do so.^[2]

On 15 September 1999, the United Nations Security Council expressed concern at the deteriorating situation in East Timor, and issued UNSC 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.^[3]

[edit] Operation Warden

The INTERFET coalition forces began deploying to East Timor on 20 September 1999, led by a vanguard of nine warships, including Portuguese NRP Vasco da Gama, British HMS Glasgow and United States USS Mobile Bay, and later the USS Peleliu. Most UNAMET (United Nations Mission in East Timor) personnel, as well as Indonesian military, police and administrators had already been evacuated from the region in the preceding months by the Royal Australian Air Force and other allied air forces, including the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The arrival of thousands of international troops in East Timor caused the militia to flee across the border into Indonesia. Sporadic cross-border raids by the militia against INTERFET forces, particularly in the southern border held by the New Zealand Army, led to suspicion that the militia had the tacit support of the Indonesian military. Such suspicion increased following a major contact at Aidabasalala, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the West Timor border, on 16 October 1999. The action, involving an Australian covert reconnaissance patrol from the Special Air Service Regiment 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 Blackhawk helicopter. Five milita were killed and three wounded, whilst there were no Australian casualties.^[4] 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.^[5]

Five months later, on 28 February 2000, INTERFET handed over command of military operations to UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor).

[edit] Countries contributing to INTERFET

Australia provided the largest contingent of troops, hardware and equipment for the INTERFET operation, followed by New Zealand.

Other countries to contribute were (in alphabetical order), Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America.

[edit] See also

• East Timor
• United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET)
• 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.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (Second ed.). Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin. ISBN 1865086347. 
• Farrell, John (2000). Peace Makers: INTERFETs Liberation of East Timor. Rocklea: Fullbore. ISBN 064639424X. 
• 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. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: INTERFET

• Australian Defence Department INTERFET website, archived on the Pandora Archive on 7 November 2000
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 1264, 15 September 1999
• A Brief History of Australian Army Operations in East Timor, 1999-2005
• INTERFET Military Personnel Chart
• 'Primary Responsibilities and Primary Risks': The Australian Defence Force Contribution to East Timor
• Stevens, David (2007). Strength Through Diversity: The Combined Naval Role in Operation Stabilise. Canberra: Sea Power Centre – Australia. ISBN 9780642 296764. http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Working_Paper_20.pdf.