Informal portrait of Wing Commander (Wing Cdr) Chris McHugh, Commanding Officer Detachment A, 381 ...

Informal portrait of Wing Commander (Wing Cdr) Chris McHugh, Commanding Officer Detachment A, 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (381 ECSS), RAAF, at Comoro Airfield. Wing Cdr McHugh is standing below a sign which read 'COMORO AIRFIELD SUPPORT GROUP. COMORO AIRFIELD-DILI'. The airfield is used by the Australian-led International Force for East Timor (INTERFET), and the buildings housing the 381 ECSS, and an operations area. Following the overwhelming vote for independence by the East Timorese on 30 August 1999 in the United Nations (UN) sponsored referendum, the pro-Indonesian militia launched a campaign of destruction, arson and murder, killing approximately 1500 people and forcing 300 000 others into West Timor as refugees. On 15 September, the UN issued a resolution, calling for a multinational force to restore peace and security and facilitate humanitarian assistance operations. By 20 September 1999, the first coalition force began deploying to East Timor as part of INTERFET. Five months later in February 2000, INTERFET handed control of military operations over to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), who were to maintain security, establish an effective administration and develop civil and social services.