A RAN Sea king helicopter taking some of the first Australian soldiers of the International Force ...

P03408.001
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Accession Number P03408.001
Collection type Photograph
Object type Negative
Maker Barham, Christopher Andrew
Place made East Timor: Suai
Date made 13 October 1999
Conflict East Timor, 1999-2013
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Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright
Description

A RAN Sea king helicopter taking some of the first Australian soldiers of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) ashore at Suai-Loro at 5:50am. 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, the first coalition force began deploying to East Timor as part of the Australian-led force known as INTERFET. Five months later, INTERFET handed control of military operations over to a new UN force, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), who were to maintain security, establish an effective administration and develop civil and social services.

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