Civilian Police Officers, members of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), sitting ...

Civilian Police Officers, members of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), sitting in the courtyard of the United Nations Headquarters in Gleno which was under siege by pro Indonesian militia following the referendum earlier that day. The militia stoned the building throughout the night and a number of locally employed staff who had camped outside the building moved inside. The Police Officers stood guard all night, protecting the locals and the ballot boxes. Identified, left to right: Paul Morris Australian Federal Police (AFP); Don Barnby AFP; Antonio, Spanish Police. 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.