| Accession Number | P03416.020 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | East Timor: Atsabe |
| Date made | c July 1999 |
| Conflict |
Period 1990-1999 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright unknown |
Australian Federal Police Officer Sergeant Phil Hunter (second from right), a member of the ...
Description
Australian Federal Police Officer Sergeant Phil Hunter (second from right), a member of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), meeting with United Nations (UN) personnel, including UN translator Jose Ernesto Jesus Maia (killed later in 1999) (fourth from left, wearing UN vest); James P Brew, Australian District Electoral Officer and Team Leader (fifth from left), and members of Falintil. UNAMET were sent to East Timor on 11 June 1999, to organise, 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.