The Indonesian invasion of East Timor had significant and profound consequences domestically
and internationally, however it was the people of East Timor who inevitably suffered the most.
and internationally, however it was the people of East Timor who inevitably suffered the most.
Over the course of the 1975-1999 occupation, at least 102,000 people were killed as a direct
consequence of conflict, with Indonesian forces and their auxiliary forces responsible for over
70% of the deaths. Of these deaths it is reported that 18,000 were a result of violent killings, with
a further 84,000 being the result of malnutrition and starvation (CAVR Timor-Leste, 2008).
consequence of conflict, with Indonesian forces and their auxiliary forces responsible for over
70% of the deaths. Of these deaths it is reported that 18,000 were a result of violent killings, with
a further 84,000 being the result of malnutrition and starvation (CAVR Timor-Leste, 2008).
When discussing the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1976, it is of paramount importance
to discuss and analyse the implications on not just a local scale, but also a global scale.
to discuss and analyse the implications on not just a local scale, but also a global scale.
While the United Nations officially opposed the actions of Indonesia within East Timor,
many of its constituents were reluctant to sanction Indonesia or support the people of East Timor.
This was almost entirely due to Cold War Politics, as the Indonesian Government was staunchly
opposed to communism. With the growing threat of the Soviet Union spreading through China and
Vietnam, democratic nations, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and more locally,
Australia saw it as being invaluable to have a pro-capitalism political ally in an area that had previously
been identified as extremely fragile and vulnerable to the compounding pressure of it's communist
neighbours (Pushkina & Maier, 2012).
many of its constituents were reluctant to sanction Indonesia or support the people of East Timor.
This was almost entirely due to Cold War Politics, as the Indonesian Government was staunchly
opposed to communism. With the growing threat of the Soviet Union spreading through China and
Vietnam, democratic nations, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and more locally,
Australia saw it as being invaluable to have a pro-capitalism political ally in an area that had previously
been identified as extremely fragile and vulnerable to the compounding pressure of it's communist
neighbours (Pushkina & Maier, 2012).
As well as this, Australia also had its own security interests tied in with Indonesia's invasion of
East Timor. Being one of the few nations within the South Pacific Region that was not continuously
subject to political and social instability (primarily due to its strong economy), the invasion of East Timor
presented an opportunity for Australia to solidify and promote stability within the region. It has been
argued that Australia has long seen the southwest Pacific as being a frontier zone and as such,
Australia has a strong interest in maintaining and promoting stability. And in order to achieve this,
Australia saw it as being within their own best interests to defer to Indonesia and as a result was
reluctant to scrutinise the intervention (McDougall, 2007).
East Timor. Being one of the few nations within the South Pacific Region that was not continuously
subject to political and social instability (primarily due to its strong economy), the invasion of East Timor
presented an opportunity for Australia to solidify and promote stability within the region. It has been
argued that Australia has long seen the southwest Pacific as being a frontier zone and as such,
Australia has a strong interest in maintaining and promoting stability. And in order to achieve this,
Australia saw it as being within their own best interests to defer to Indonesia and as a result was
reluctant to scrutinise the intervention (McDougall, 2007).
While the real time effects of the Indonesian occupation in East Timor were catastrophic, the
aftermath has been considerably damaging as well. When Indonesia eventually removed all
military and political forces from East Timor in 1999, they took with it years of unrivalled political
experience, which had been used to govern the country for the duration of the
invasion (Smith & Dee, 2003). This enormous gap in knowledge of governance had (and
continues to have) extensive detrimental effects on the political, economic and military stability
of East Timor. With pro-Indonesia militias still operating within East Timor after the withdrawal of
Indonesian authorities, Australia saw it as the right time to offer a suggestion of self-determination
for the people of East Timor (Chalk, 2001). The suggestion sparked a wave of violent clashes within
East Timor. It was not until 1999 that a United Nations sanctioned and Australian led Peacekeeping
Operation was established (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2010). However, as previously
stated the fall of the communist threat presented the opportunity for regional neighbours in Australia
and the global community to finally act within East Timor, as the cloud of Cold War politics had finally
lifted.
aftermath has been considerably damaging as well. When Indonesia eventually removed all
military and political forces from East Timor in 1999, they took with it years of unrivalled political
experience, which had been used to govern the country for the duration of the
invasion (Smith & Dee, 2003). This enormous gap in knowledge of governance had (and
continues to have) extensive detrimental effects on the political, economic and military stability
of East Timor. With pro-Indonesia militias still operating within East Timor after the withdrawal of
Indonesian authorities, Australia saw it as the right time to offer a suggestion of self-determination
for the people of East Timor (Chalk, 2001). The suggestion sparked a wave of violent clashes within
East Timor. It was not until 1999 that a United Nations sanctioned and Australian led Peacekeeping
Operation was established (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2010). However, as previously
stated the fall of the communist threat presented the opportunity for regional neighbours in Australia
and the global community to finally act within East Timor, as the cloud of Cold War politics had finally
lifted.
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