Australia and the Indonesian occupation of East Timor

Australia, a close neighbour of both Indonesia and East Timor, was the only country to recognise Indonesia's annexation of East Timor.[1] Some members of the Australian public supported self-determination for East Timor,[2] and also actively supported the independence movement within Australia.[2] The Australian Government saw the need for both stability and good relations with their neighbour, Indonesia.[3] However, it was criticised in some quarters, including by Xanana Gusmão (the FRETILIN leader) for putting those issues above human rights.[4] In 1998, the Howard government changed its stance and supported East Timor self-determination, prompting a referendum that saw East Timor gain its independence.[5]

  1. ^ Bell, Coral (2000). "East Timor, Canberra and Washington: A Case Study in Crisis Management". Australian Journal of International Affairs. 54 (2): 171–176. doi:10.1080/713613507. S2CID 153396665.
  2. ^ a b Kelton, Maryanne "More Than an Ally?: Contemporary Australia-US Relations" Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2008 p 73
  3. ^ In office: Paul Keating, Australia's Prime Ministers, National Archives of Australia, accessdate 4 May 2016
  4. ^ Gusmão, Xanana, "Xanana attacks Australia over East Timor", The Age (Melbourne, Australia). July 13, 1994, 3
  5. ^ "Unanimous assembly decision makes Timor-Leste 191st United Nations member state", United Nations, 27 September 2002, accessdate 4 May 2016