1999 East Timorese independence referendum

1999 East Timor popular consultation

30 August 1999
Do you accept the proposed special autonomy for East Timor within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia?
Results
Choice Votes % Accept 94,388 21.50% Reject 344,580 78.50% Valid votes 438,968 98.21% Invalid or blank votes 7,985 1.79% Total votes 446,953 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 451,792 98.93%

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An independence referendum was held in East Timor on 30 August 1999, organised by United Nations Mission in East Timor. The referendum's origins lay with the request made by the President of Indonesia, B. J. Habibie, to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 27 January 1999, for the United Nations to hold a referendum, whereby East Timor would be given choice of either greater autonomy within Indonesia or independence.

Voters rejected the proposed special autonomy, leading to their separation from Indonesia. This led to mass violence and the destruction of infrastructure in East Timor, before the UN Security Council ratified the resolution on 15 September for the formation of a multinational force (INTERFET) to be immediately sent to East Timor to restore order and security and end the humanitarian crisis. East Timor would officially achieve recognised independence on 20 May 2002.^[1]

By many Indonesians (including the government), the referendum is also called the East Timorese people's consultation (Konsultasi rakyat Timor Timur), since the referendum required the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) resolution to revoke its previous 1978 resolution if the majority of voters rejected the proposal.