This was unexpected by the Australian government, who expected the letter to be rejected, and even if it was considered, expected a move to autonomy to be planned and to take place years if not decades in the future. Also, from the Indonesian point of view, there was a reluctance to continue to support and invest money into East Timor, for an extended period of time, if in fact Timor would simply leave Indonesia at some point in the future. Though it was noted there had been a fair amount of diplomacy between the two leaders, who generally had good relations, It was said that Habibie was not happy with the letter, which prompted him to act. Habibie, however, prompted by the letter, decided to have a referendum on independence immediately. While the letter advocated that the referendum take place over the next 10 or 20 years, Indonesian President B. Australian Prime Minister John Howard, proposed by letter to the president of Indonesia that there should be a referendum for the people of East Timor, to do with their autonomy. This shift in policy was initially revealed by journalists, and then formally acknowledged by the Australian Foreign minister, Alexander Downer, on the 12th of January 1999. The Australian Government's policy was also shifting, and while in the past it was one of the few countries that recognised Indonesia's control over East Timor, the Government's view at this time changed towards the possibility of some sort of autonomy. At this time, there was an increase in East Timor itself of more overt feelings towards independence. Even after the Dili Massacre, when the US military pulled out in protest, Paul Keating's Government had increased military support, Keating himself was close to Suharto, and had financial dealings with Indonesian business. Under the past Fraser and Hawke governments, there had been support for Indonesia over its rule of East Timor. Habibie.Īustralian shift in policy and letter from John Howard Īround this time Australian support for Indonesia over East Timor had been changing. Following civil unrest and protests, long time president Suharto fell from power and was replaced by B. After the widely publicized atrocity, which was recorded on video, US support for Indonesia ended and the US military pulled out of Indonesia. It was widely reported that between 180 and 200 people had been killed in the massacre. The 1991 Dili Massacre was a turning point for the independence cause and an East Timor solidarity movement grew in Portugal, the Philippines, Australia, and other Western countries. The human rights violations of the Indonesian government resulted in a home grown resistance movement, FRETILIN, pushing for independence. It was estimated by one report that Indonesia was responsible for 180,000 deaths in the 24-year period that it ruled East Timor. The flags of East Timor and the United Nations on Independence Day 2014.Įast Timor was occupied by Indonesia for 24 years from 1976 to 1999 in a period many consider to be a genocide.
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