Pre-flight checks and activities in the rain, prior to a Black Hawk helicopter flight from the ...

Pre-flight checks and activities in the rain, prior to a Black Hawk helicopter flight from the Dili helicopter base (Dili heliport) to Suai. A Land Rover (serial number 48-405) is parked at the left. The helicopter (serial number A25-212) had to return to the helicopter port twice with engine problems, after which the trip was abandoned. Amongst the passengers are Captain (Capt) Shane Stroud, Australian Army, the military head of the East Hill Barracks, Sydney, and Larry Tanner, an immigration official who works at the East Timorese refugee camp at the East Hills Barracks. They are visiting East Timor on a fact finding tour in order to lessen the fears of the refugees in Sydney. 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 Australian-led International Force for East Timor (INTERFET). Xanana Gusmao, leader of the Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor (FRETILIN), and its armed wing the Armed Forces of National Liberation of East Timor (FALINTIL), was released from house arrest on 7 September 1999, and fled to Australia. He returned when stability was restored by INTERFET. In May 2002, Xanana Gusmao became President of an independent Democratic Republic of Timor- Leste.