In 1975 Indonesia invaded East Timor. Immediately they started a campaign of systematic destruction. For 24 years they were left undisturbed because of U.S support under the pretext of fighting communism. More than 200,000 people died and over two thirds of all Timorese women were subject to rape, sexual slavery, and sexual torture. Not until the Santa Cruz Massacre where 300 young men died did the U.S and the United Nations change their stance.
American Support for the Invasion
This is a review written by the NSA of the American Support for the Invasion of Timor-Leste.
Primary Quotes about Crimes Against Humanity
"At 2 p.m., 59 men, both Chinese and Timorese, were brought on to the wharf ... These men were shot one by one, with the crowd, believed amounting to 500, being ordered to count. The victims were ordered to stand on the edge of the pier facing the sea, so that when they were shot their bodies fell into the water. Indonesian soldiers stood by and fired at the bodies in the water in the event that there was any sign of life." (East Timor: The price for Independence) Once, the Indonesian Armed Forces had set foot on shore they began a systematic campaign of eliminating the male population of East Timor. In late 1976 "letters smuggled via [the West Timorese town of] Kupang reached relatives in Darwin [Australia], listing whole families killed during the invasion. ... [One letter] said that many of the inhabitants of Dili had fled to the mountains before the invasion but that of those remaining 80% of the men were killed by Indonesian troops" (East Timor: Nationalism and Colonialism). Horrific acts were systematically carried out with no hesitation by the Indonesian Armed Forces. "after plundering the population of all their belongings, [Indonesian troops] firmly tied up men, women and children, numbering more than sixty people. They made them lie on the ground and then drove a bulldozer over them, and then used it to place a few centimetres of earth on top of the totally crushed corpses."(East Timor: The Price for Independence) Released by a United Nations report, Indonesia also used extensively "Napalm and chemical weapons, which poisoned the food and water supply..." (Yale: United Nations Report). Torture was also used during the Genocide: "with horrific details of public beheadings, the mutilation of genitalia, the burying and burning alive of victims, use of cigarettes to burn victims, and ears and genitals being lopped off to display to families" (Yale: United Nations Report). Although men, and boys received the most attention by the Indonesian Armed Forces women, were victims of rape and sexual torture (which will be better explained in the tab "The Process of 'Indonesation'). The Indonesian followed this policy of genocide and mass terror on the population of East Timor due to great differences in religion and culture. Traditionally, Bantha and Muslim the Indonesians regarded the Timorese who spoke Portuguese or a creole version of Portuguese and were mostly Roman Catholic or Animistic. This challenge was regarded to be met with force instead of peaceful integration. Today, history might be very different if the Indonesians had followed a peaceful approach to the challenge. Third, not all Timorese were executed by crimes against humanity. To further break up traditional Timorese life many Timorese were relocated to model Indonesian villages. This altered the agricultural cycles in the country which lead to widespread famine. Timorese families were separated to break up the complex family ties that had ruled tribal life in East Timor. Finally, under the pretext of the death penalty the Timorese could no longer practice their traditional culture and religion. They were forced to learn traditional Indonesian songs and dances. The Indonesians also opened new school who taught only Bantha and Indonesian history. East Timor's history and language was forbidden to be studied under the death penalty.
The Process of "Indonesation"
With women sex was used for terrorizing the female population and for the purpose of turning East Timor into a Indonesian province. Rape was also used "by the Indonesian military as a weapon of war" (Yale: United Nations Report). "'Rape, sexual slavery and sexual violence were tool used as part of the campaign designed to inflict a deep experience of terror.'" (Yale: United Nations Report). By the end of the Genocide over two thirds of the Timorese female population had witnessed or were victims of sexual assault.
Frentlin's guerilla warfare
This letter written by Nicolau Lobato the Prime Minister of the exiled East Timor government talks about FRENTLIN's continued resistance towards Indonesian forces.
Massacre at the Santa Cruz cemetery and a change of policy
"In the 1990s, two events brought Timor-Leste firmly to the world’s attention. The first was the 1991 massacre of nearly 300 people at the Santa Cruz Cemetery in the capital, Dili, which was captured on film." (United Nations Report on the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste)
The Plebiscite and Militias go on a Rampage
In 1998 President Suharto retired and President Habibie took over. The government declared that East Timor could receive special autonomy as an Indonesian state. In 1999 due to strong international pressure Indonesia decided to hold a plebiscite about the future of East Timor. On August 30, 1999 ninety-six percent of the population voted for independence. The U.N handed over the security matters to the Indonesian Armed Forces. Under the pretext of protecting the people Indonesia went on a rampage of death and destruction. In a few days hundreds of women had been raped and thousands of men had been executed. The capital Dili was set ablaze and more than ninety percent of East Timor's infrastructure, electrical grid etc... had been destroyed
United Nations Aid and Rebuilding
"Since 1999, UNDP has been supporting the Timorese people move from post-conflict recovery towards sustainable development. UNDP'S Country Programme Action Plan (2009-2013), developed in partnership with the Timor-Leste government, aims to build the foundations for lasting peace, stability and security in the country by fostering a culture of democratic governance, reducing poverty, managing environmental resources and find solutions for preventing and recovering from crisis." (United Nations Report on the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste)
"1) democratization and social cohesion;
2) poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods;
and 3) basic social services. All come under the overarching goal of consolidating peace and stability, which is the cornerstone of the UNDAF in Timor-Leste" (United Nations Report on the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste)
"1) democratization and social cohesion;
2) poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods;
and 3) basic social services. All come under the overarching goal of consolidating peace and stability, which is the cornerstone of the UNDAF in Timor-Leste" (United Nations Report on the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste)
Documents of the united nations aid and rebuilding effort
This is a survey by the United Nations showing key indicators of the country
A Population Pyramid of Timor-Leste 2009-2010
The main goals of the united nations mission Timor-leste
This chart shows the primary goals of the aid and rebuilding efforts that the United Nations has worked on