East Timorese children gather on the concrete steps of a building in a village. The two houses in ...

Accession Number P04676.141
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Film original negative chromogenic Kodak T400 CN
Maker Immig, John
Place made East Timor
Date made January 2000
Conflict East Timor, 1999-2013
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Description

East Timorese children gather on the concrete steps of a building in a village. The two houses in the background have been destroyed during a period of unrest in East Timor. 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).