P03393.012 Accession Number: P03393.012

Description

Members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET) standing near United Nations (UN) vehicles parked on an empty riverbed at about 8:40am as a Super Puma helicopter lands to collect ballot boxes from the previous days voting in the referendum for East Timor's independence. The landing zone had been switched to this riverbed in an effort to avoid the pro-Indonesian militia, however they saw the helicopter divert and surrounded the river bed, firing on the civilian Police Officers and the helicopter. The helicopter, following operational regulations, lifted off without the ballot boxes, one of which blew open in the down draught, scattering ballot papers around the area. All but one or two papers were recovered despite the fact that the unarmed Police Officers were surrounded by armed militia determined not to allow the ballots to be returned to Dili. After a stand off and tense negotiations, the militia backed off and the helicopter re-landed at the main landing zone and the ballot boxes were quickly loaded and returned to Dili to be counted. The militia established roadblocks at all entry points to the town and started a rampage, burning houses a number of houses to the ground. The Police Officers had to negotiate a safe passage out of the town, and finally at approximately 5:30pm were able to leave Gleno and return to Dili. UNAMET was 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.