Members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET) and an East Timorese local standing ...

Members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET) and an East Timorese local standing around a fire outside the United Nations Headquarters after the close of polling. Ballot boxes from the days polling are being kept inside the Headquarters prior to their transfer to Dili the next day. Other East Timorese locals have taken shelter inside the Headquarters building after they were attacked by pro-Indonesian militia, whereas civilian Police Officers spent the night outside to try and deter the militia from further attacks. Identified, left to right: unidentified East Timorese local, Randy Martinet, United States Police; Don Barnby, Australian Federal Police (AFP); locally employed United Nations staff member; Peter Watts, AFP. UNAMET was sent to East Timor on 11 June 1999, to conduct and supervise the referendum, held on 30 August 1999, to allow the East Timorese to choose between autonomy within Indonesia or independence. Following the overwhelming vote for independence, 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. Due to this the mandate of UNAMET was extended from 31 August 1999 to 30 September 1999, although most members were evacuated by 20 September when the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) was sent in.