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 IndonesiaEast Timor Gains IndependenceThe ethnic, religious, and political tensions
kept in check during Suharto's 32 years of authoritarian rule erupted in
the months following his downfall. Rioting and violence shook the
provinces of Aceh, Ambon (in the Moluccas), Borneo, and Irian Jaya. But
nowhere was the violence more brutal and unjust than in East Timor.
Habibie unexpectedly ended 25 years of Indonesian intransigence by
announcing in Feb. 1999 that he was willing to hold a referendum on East
Timorese independence. Twice rescheduled because of violence, a
UN-organized referendum took place on Aug. 30, 1999, with 78.5% of the
population voting to secede from Indonesia. In the days following the
election, pro-Indonesian militias and Indonesian soldiers massacred
civilians and forced a third of the population out of the region. After
enormous international pressure, the government, which was either
unwilling or unable to stop the violent rampage, finally agreed to allow
UN forces into East Timor on Sept. 12, 1999. East Timor achieved
independence on May 20, 2002.
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