1999 East Timorese crisis
Part of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor, Decolonisation of Asia, and the Fall of Suharto
Destroyed houses 19.jpg
Destroyed houses in Dili
DateApril 1999 – 2005
Location
East Timor
Status

East Timorese tactical victory

  • Defeat of pro-Indonesian militia
  • Stabilisation of East Timor
  • East Timorese independence referendum
  • US embargo of military sales to Indonesia from 9 September 1999 to 22 November 2005
  • UK embargo of military sales to Indonesia from 11 September 1999 to 11 April 2012
  • Australia embargo military sales to Indonesia September 1999
  • European Union (EU) embargo military sales to Indonesia 16 September 1999 – 17 January 2000

Pro-Indonesia militia strategic victory

  • 80% of East Timor's infrastructure destroyed by Scorched Earth Operation
Belligerents

East Timor

Supported by:
  • Australia – 5,000
  • New Zealand – 1,250
  • Thailand – 1,600
  • Argentina 
  • Austria 
  • Bangladesh 
  • Benin 
  • Bolivia 
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina 
  • Brazil 
  • Bulgaria 
  • Canada 
  • Chile 
  • China 
  • Croatia 
  • Denmark 
  • Egypt 
  • Fiji 
  • France 
  • Gambia 
  • Germany 
  • Ghana 
  • Israel 
  • Ireland 
  • Italy 
  • Japan 
  • Jordan 
  • Kenya 
  • Malaysia 
  • Mexico 
  • Mozambique 
  • Namibia 
  • Nepal 
  • Niger 
  • Nigeria 
  • Norway 
  • Pakistan 
  • Peru 
  • Philippines 
  • Portugal 
  • Russia 
  • Samoa 
  • Senegal 
  • Serbia and Montenegro 
  • Singapore 
  • Slovakia 
  • Slovenia 
  • Spain 
  • South Korea 
  • Sri Lanka 
  • Sweden 
  • Tajikistan 
  • Turkey 
  • Ukraine 
  • Uruguay 
  • United Kingdom 
  • United States 
  • Vanuatu 
  • Zambia 
  • Zimbabwe 

Pro-Indonesian militias – 13,000

  • Aitarak
  • Besi Merah Putih
  • Laksaur
  • Mahidi

Supported by:

  • Lambang Kopassus.svg Kopassus (alleged)
  • The National Intelligence Agency (Indonesia).svg BIN
  • Jakarta lobby
Commanders and leaders
  • AustraliaJohn Howard
  • AustraliaPeter Cosgrove
  • New ZealandJenny Shipley
  • New ZealandHelen Clark
  • New ZealandCarey Adamson
  • BrazilSérgio Vieira de Mello
  • PortugalBrig. Gen. Paulo Pereira Guerreiro  
Wiranto
Eurico Guterres
Casualties and losses
1,400 civilians
220,000+ refugees
3 UNHCR staff killed
2 journalists killed
1 Indonesian soldier killed
1 Indonesian police killed