The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET) walking past East Timorese locals scooping coffee beans into a machine to shell them. Identified, left to right: two unidentified East Timorese workers; Rindert (no further information), Dutch District Electoral Officer (DEO); Sandra Chestnutt, Australian DEO; unidentified civilian Police Officer. 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.
Informal portrait of members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET) standing in a street in Ermera. Identified, left to right: Sandra Chestnutt, Australian District Electoral Officer (DEO);
Informal portrait of civilian Police Officers, and District Electoral Officers (DEO), all members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET). Identified, left to right, standing: Sergeant (Sgt)
Informal group portrait of Australian Federal Police (AFP) Officer, Sergeant Phil Hunter (left) with Indonesian Police and unidentified District Electoral Officer (DEO). The Police and DEOs are in Eas
Informal portrait of United Nations (UN) staff, District Electoral Officers (DEO) and civilian Police Officers, part of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET). Identified, left to right, ba
Unidentified Australian Federal Police Officers, both members of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), drinking coconut milk from coconuts. They are watched by East Timorese villagers and
Multinational District Electoral Officers (DEOs), part of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET), registering an East Timorese woman to vote in the upcoming referendum. Officials identified, l
