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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
Chapter Five