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WW2
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General election begin
General election begin in East Timor as they have just gained Independance. -
Foundation of Falintil
Fighting breaks out in rual Timor. -
Fretlin gains control
Fretlin finally regains control of the country and UDT prisoners are liberated. -
Indonesia begins to cross boarder attacks
On the 16th five Australian journalists were killed in balibo -
Democratic Rebuplic of East Timor is declared
In a formal ceremony, Fretlin declares 'The Democratc Republic of East Timor' with 2,000 people present. -
Indonesia invades Timor
Indonesia launches full-scale air and sea invasion of Dili -
Indonesian troops arrive in Dili
15,000 - 20,000 additional Indonesian troops land in East Timor -
Fretlin forces control
Fretlin forces report that they control just over 80% of the territory. -
Annilihation
First stage of Indonesian Campaign of Annilihation. -
UN rejects integration
UN General Assembly rejects integration and calls for act of self-determination. -
Second stage of Annihilation
Second stage of Indonesian Campaign of Annihilation. -
UN calls for an act of self-determination for Timor
UN General Essembly calls for withdrawal of Indonesian troops and an act of self-determination. -
Deaths of President Nicolau Lobato and Vincente 'Sahe' dos Reis
Deaths of FRETLIN leaders President Nicolau Lobato, Vincente 'Sahe' dos Reis and others signify the end of the intial resistance and leadership. -
Reports of starvation and re-settlement camps
Reports of starvation in East Timor and 30,000 people living in re-settlement camps. The Australian goverment is still supporting the invasion despite protests and campaigns against it in Australia. -
Whitlam visits East Timor
Australian Ex Prime MInister Whitlam visits East Timor for three days praising integretion within Indonesia. -
Elections held
Elections are held in East Timor in which offical Indonesian party Golkar wins 98.8% of the vote. There are suspicions that the election was rigged as timorese were bribed with money and food and their desperate conditions were taken advantage of. -
Calls for act of self-determination
UN General Assembly again condems annexation and calls for an act of self - determination. Secetary General instructed to initiate discussions with 'all concerned parties', namely Indonesia and Portugal. There are still no mention of UN force despite the inhumanity and violance occuring in Timor at the time. -
Regional ceasefire
Regional ceasefire is agreed upon by FRETLIN freedom fighter leader Xanana Gusmauo and Indonesian Military representatives. -
State of emergancy declared
There was an uprising in Viqueque and Kraras massacre signals end of ceasfire. A State of emergancy is declared and a new Indonesian offensive Operation Unity is launched. -
Restructure and resistance
In a reorganisation of the resistance structure, Xanana Gusmao declares Falintil a non-partisan 'national' army and resigns from FRETLIN. CNRM established and Xanana is declared as leader of the new party. -
Pope John Paul visits Timor
Pope John Paul II visits Timor, this is significant for East Timor as the 98% of the population is Catholic. As a result a huge demonstration in Dili signals the begginning of a phase of urban political demonstrations organised by the emerging youth resistance. -
Santa Cruz Massacre
A massacre of hundreds of Timorese occurs at Santa Cruz cemetery at a funeral procession of Sebastio Gomes. The indonesian troops trapped the Timorese in the cemetary and started firing on them. The event is shown on television screens world wide. Finally the world is seeing the real impact of Indonesia's occupation and there is an up roar around the world. -
Xanana's capture and imprisonment
Xanana Gusmauo was captured in Dili and many others were arrested, including those who hid him and members of his family. He is taken to Bali and Jakarta amidst the international protests. He appears on TV stating that the struggle is over. -
Xanana's Trial
Between Febuary - May Xanana is trialed in Dili. He is sentenced to life imprisoment and transfered to Salemba prison then to Cipinang in Jakarta. Mau Huno becomes the new leader of the resistance in Timor but is soon captured and Konis Santana fills his place. -
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Horta and Bishop Belo
The Nobel peace prize is awarded to Jose Ramos Horta and Bishop Belo. Horta spent 24 years exiled lobbying foreign governments and the US on the East Timorese cause. Branded a criminal and a traitor by the Indonesian Government, in 1996 he was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Bishop Carlos Belo, the leader of East Timor's majority Catholic population.
Bishop Belo arrives in East Timor and tens of thousands of Timorese greet him. -
Xanana calls for Referendum
Referendum is called and a secret meeting between President Mandela and Xanana at the Indonesian palace guest house takes place to talk about Xanana's release. Mandela recmmends Xanana's release. -
CNRT
National Timorese Convention held in Portugal establishes the CNRT to replace CNRM and Xanana is elected President. Suharto resigns after the student pro-democracy pressure from the Indonesian public. -
Australia changes their mind
Australia suddenly changes foreign policy on East Timor to one of self-determination for East Timor. -
Process of consultation
Indonesian President Habibie announces a ‘process of consultation’. An agreement amoung Indonesia, Portugal and the UN puts a special autonomy framework to the East Timorese people through a ‘popular consultation’ and for the UN to establish a United Nations mission, UNAMET, to do so. -
Ballot
‘Popular consultation’ is carried out, more than 97% of East Timorese vote. -
Ballot
The official announcements of the results, 344,580 East Timorese (78.5% voters) voted in favour of independence. Almost immediately, pro Indonesian militias began a rampage of shooting, burning and herding people out of their homes.
The pro integration militias, with substantial Indonesian military backing, engage in a period of uncontrolled terrorism. An estimated 2,000 Timorese were killed and over 200,000 forcibly displaced into West Timor and other parts of Indonesia. -
Xanana released
Xanana was released from prison amidst military slayings in East Timor. He takes refuge in the British Embassy and then fleas to Darwin as starts receiving death threats. He undertakes a serious of emergency meetings in London, New York and Europe. -
Ballot
Indonesian army begins its withdrawal from East Timor. At the same time a first count by the UN indicates that 400,000 East Timorese (45% of the population) are reported missing. -
Xanana returns
Xanana returns to the devastated East Timor.