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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Comment
Paul Daley

Australia helped bring peace to Timor-Leste – but that doesn’t absolve it of a long appeasement of Indonesia

Australia Indonesia United States Timor John Howard Jakarta TimorLeste Peter Cosgrove East Timorese
Then Australian PM John Howard, centre, emerges from a helicopter as Interfet commander Peter Cosgrove, left, looks on at Batugade, East Timor, 28 November 1999.
Then Australian PM John Howard, centre, emerges from a helicopter as Interfet commander Peter Cosgrove, left, looks on at Batugade, East Timor, 28 November 1999. Photograph: The Sydney Morning Herald/Fairfax Media/Getty Images

It is almost 25 years since the Australian-led International Force East Timor (Interfet) brought security and eventual peace to newly independent Timor-Leste.

Given the highly disciplined military operation led by a future governor general, Peter Cosgrove, that began in late September 1999 – saving countless East Timorese from the murderous militias backed by the Indonesian military – the anniversary is worthy of significant national remembrance.

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