978-1-4222-3430-3

On August 20, 2010, representatives of Timor Leste’s armed forces march in the parade celebrating National Army Day in the capital city, Dali.

approval of governments such as the United States and Australia. During the invasion, tens of thousands of Timorese people were killed. Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor continued, with the United States and other countries contributing weapons, equipment, and training.Western nations, if they admitted their support, claimed they were trying to keep peace in East Timor, naming the 1975 conflict as evidence of civil war. The United Nations condemned the occupation, but was unable to take any actions against it, since the United States, one of the permanent members of the Security Council, was able to veto any proposals. Then, in 1991, two things happened that turned public opinion. Until this time, most people in the world did not think much about East Timor. Then, in November of 1991, Indonesian forces opened fire in the capital of Dili on a crowd of Timorese who had gathered to mourn a murdered independence activist . Two hundred and fifty people were killed and many more badly wounded. Many of the dead were children. As news of

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Chapter Five