East Timor Chronology
Gerry van Klinken, Richard Tanter, Stephen Shalom, and Geoffrey C. Gunn
1500s
14th century Ming chronicles record direct trade in sandalwood between China and Timor.
1513 Timor cited in the "Rodrigues" map of first Portuguese expedition to the Moluccas (spice islands) as "source of fine sandalwood."
1522, Jan.-Feb. Magellan circumnavigation sojourns in Timor for 26 days.
1560s Dominicans fortify Solor island, first seat of the Portuguese state in the archipelago, and collection center for Portuguese and Chinese sandalwood traders on Timor.
1600s
1613 first Dutch attack on Solor, forcing temporary Portuguese retreat to Flores.
1642 Portuguese defeat the strategic kingdom of Welhale-Mena on Timor.
1653 Dutch takeover of Dominican fortress at Kupang ushering in their domination of West Timor down until Indonesia's full independence in 1949.
1695 first Portuguese Governor appointed to Lifau in the Oecusse-Ambeno enclave on Timor.
1700s
1769, Oct. Portuguese temporarily abandon Oecusse (besieged by mixed-race "topasses") for Dili, site of the new capital.
1800s
1859, April 20 Portugal and the Netherlands conclude first border delimitation treaty on Timor, with Portugal ceding its historic possessions on the islands of Flores, Adenara and Solor.
1894-1901; 1907-08; 1910-13 Overlapping Manufahi revolts brought to a bloody end.
1910s
1914, June 25 final international arbitration of enclave and boundary disputes, arising out of treaty signed at The Hague on 3 April 1913.
1940s
1941, Dec. 17 "preemptive" invasion of Portuguese Timor by joint Australian-Dutch force.
1942, Feb. 20-1945, Sept. Japanese invasion and occupation.
1945, Aug. 17 Republic of Indonesia, which includes West Timor, declares independence. The declaration is internationally recognised 27 Dec. 1949 after a struggle with the Dutch.
1950s
June 1959 Indonesian-backed rebellion in Viqueque suppressed with major casualties to rebel side.
1960s
1965, October 1 Major-General Suharto leads "counter-coup" against alleged PKI coup. 500,000 - 800,000 killed over next two years.
1966, March 11 President Sukarno names Suharto Minister of Defence and Security and signs letter known as Super Semar effectively naming Suharto as head of government. [Super Semar: Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret (Order of March 11).
1967, March 27 Suharto becomes Acting President.
1968, March 27 Suharto becomes President of Indonesia.
1970s
1974, April Democratic coup in Portugal. decolonization begins in East Timor. New political parties include UDT (favoring gradual dissociation from Portugal) and Fretilin (favoring immediate independence).
1975, Aug.-Sept. Conflict between the parties leads to brief civil war (made worse by Indonesia taking sides with UDT). Fretilin wins.
1975, Nov. 28 Fretilin declares East Timor's independence.
1975, Dec. 6 US President Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger meet with Indonesian President Suharto in Jakarta.
1975, Dec. 7 Indonesia invades East Timor, ending months of intelligence operations and small-scale incursions.
1975, Dec. 22 UN Security Council calls on Indonesia to withdraw from East Timor.
1976, April 22 UN Security Council again calls on Indonesia to withdraw.
1976, July 17 Indonesia officially 'integrates' East Timor.
1976, Nov. 19 UN General Assembly rejects the annexation.
1977, Feb. First reports emerge of US Bronco OV-10 counter-insurgency specialist aircraft being used in East Timor.
1977, Sept. Arrest by Fretilin of Xavier da Amaral, first President of DRET and Fretilin president, following his attempt to negotiate surrender with Indonesian forces.
1977, Nov. Nicolau Lobato elected leader of Fretilin.
1978-79 Indonesian forces bomb mountain areas. Remaining civilians surrender and are resettled in strategic villages, where starvation, disease and massacre eventually claims up to 200,000 lives, more than a quarter of the population.
1978, Dec. 31 Killing of Nicolau Lobato, Fretilin leader and Falantil commander.
1980s
1980 Fretilin armed resistance (Falintil) regroups under Xanana Gusmao.
1981, March First National Conference of the Re-organization of Country elects Xanana as chairman of the National Council for Revolutionary Resistance [Conselho Revolucionaria Resistance Nacional: CRRN], the new organization to coordinate all resistance, and confirms his position as commander of Falantil.
1987, Dec. Gusmao resigns from Fretilin, declares Falantil to be unaligned with any political party, and establishes the National Council of Maubere Resistance [CNRM].
1990s
1991
1991, Nov. 12 Indonesian army massacre of peaceful demonstrators in Dili (Santa Cruz cemetery) recorded on film; causes outrage around the world.
1992
1992, Nov. 20 Indonesian military capture Xanana Gusmao in Dili, exposing extensive clandestine network of support in towns. He is sentenced to 20 years jail for possession of weapons.
1996
1996, Dec. 12 Exiled CNRM spokesman Jose Ramos Horta and Dili's Bishop Carlos Belo are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
1997
1997, July 15 South African President Mandela meets Xanana in President Suharto's guest house in Jakarta, Xanana having been taken from jail for the occasion. Many other diplomats (including US diplomats) visit Xanana looking for a political solution.
1997, July Thailand abandons fixed exchange rate, beginning devastating plunge in currencies of Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea and Indonesia. At one point the Indonesian rupiah loses 80% of its value at the beginning of the crisis. Over the following year more than 8 million Indonesians are rendered unemployed.
1997, Nov. Indonesia signs agreement with IMF to receive loans of $US10b. in IMF loans, the corner stone of more than $US47b. total emergency loans agreed to in the following year.
1998
1998, Jan. 9 Ratings agency Standard & Poor downgrades Indonesia's currency to 'junk bond' status after it loses half its value in five days following an expansionary budget delivered by President Suharto in the face of IMF demands to the contrary.
1998, Jan. Anti-government disturbances in Indonesia break out in many parts of the country, and continue throughout the first half of the year, with violent responses by the Indonesian police and armed forces.
1998, Jan. 15 Facing massive capital flight, Indonesia signs an agreement with the IMF to introduce widespread economic reforms. President Suharto commits Indonesia to review large numbers of wasteful major projects, eliminate monopolies controlled by relatives and cronies, and reform the financial sector.
1998, March 10 President Suharto re-elected to a seventh term as president, and receives "special powers" under legislation passed by the People's Consultative Assembly. Due to concern with President Suharto's policies, the IMF delays payment on a major loan installment.
1998, March 14 To the consternation of the US and the IMF, President Suharto announces cabinet posts for his closest businessman crony, Muhammad "Bob" Hasan, and his eldest daughter and wealthy businesswoman, Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, known as Tutut.
1998, April 23 UN envoy on East Timor, Jamsheed Marker, sends a five-page autonomy proposal for discussion to Indonesian UN ambassador Nugroho Wisnumurti. The proposal is leaked in early July.
1998, April 27 CNRM is renamed CNRT (Timorese National Resistance Council), with the Timorese Democratic Union [UDT] and smaller non-CNRM political groupings joining the new body.
1998, May 12 Indonesian soldiers open fire on thousands of student demonstrators at Trisakti University in Jakarta, killing six. More than 200 people die subsequently in Indonesia-wide demonstrations and riots. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright deplores the killings and calls for immediate political reform in Indonesia.
1998, May 13-14 During massive riots in predominantly Chinese sectors of Jakarta, hundreds of women are raped, in a planned attempt by parts of the military hierarchy to divert attention from the political crisis.
1998, May 21 President Suharto resigns. Vice-President Habibie becomes Indonesia's third President.
1998, June 4 Nearly the entire Indonesian military hierarchy in East Timor perishes in a helicopter crash near Viqueque, East Timor.
1998, June 6 East Timor Governor Abilio Soares is howled down by a large meeting in Dili at which he proposes autonomy for East Timor. The meeting wants freedom for Xanana and a referendum on independence.
1998, June 11 President Habibie offers the international community 'special status' for East Timor, ahead of crucial financial talks with the IMF.
1998, mid-June to Sept. Frequent large demonstrations in favor of independence take place throughout East Timor. University of East Timor campus is the base for students organizing them. In July and Aug. students fan out to hold meetings in 10 regional centres. The Indonesian military do not intervene in demonstrations.
1998, July Thousands of recent non-Timorese settlers temporarily flee East Timor, fearing unrest against them on 17 July 'integration day' or during a coming visit by UN representative Jamsheed Marker.
1998, July 10 US Senate unanimously passes a declaration calling for a referendum on East Timor's political future.
1998, July 17 Bishop Belo meets resistance leader Xanana Gusmao in a Jakarta jail, just one of a string of high profile visitors that keep Xanana busy and in the public eye.
1998, July 27 Over 100 Indonesian and international journalists are brought over to witness the 'withdrawal' of Indonesian combat troops from East Timor. On 8 Aug. a local military commander says no more combat troops remain. (The claims are later revealed to be a complete fabrication).
1998, Aug. 5 Portuguese and Indonesian foreign ministers agree to commence 'in-depth' talks under UN auspices in Oct. about 'wide-ranging autonomy' for East Timor.
1998, Sept. 9 A national political committee of the Timorese National Resistance Council (CNRT) is sworn in publicly in Dili. It is the first time they have emerged openly in East Timor since 1975.
1998, Sept. 10-11 50 Representatives of all political groupings including Fretilin hold a dialogue in Dare, near Dili, sponsored by East Timor's two Catholic bishops. All but 3 of the delegates support a referendum on independence.
1998, early Oct. Xanana assures Australian oil company BHP executive Peter Cockroft CNRT will not press for renegotiation of the controversial Indonesian-Australian Timor Gap Treaty in the short term.
1998, late Oct. Indonesian military begins rapid expansion of East Timorese civilian militias, to counter the popular push for independence.
1998, Oct. 6-8 Senior officials from Portugal and Indonesia meet in New York under UN auspices to discuss autonomy arrangements for East Timor. Technical negotiations follow.
1998, Oct. 30 The New York Times and The Australian report the contents of over 100 pages of leaked Indonesian military documents from Aug. detailing the presence of more than twice as many troops in East Timor as Jakarta has claimed, and no evidence of any withdrawal whatever in early Aug.
1998, Oct. 31-Nov. 3 UN-sponsored intra-East Timorese dialogue in Krumbach, Austria (the fourth in a series initiated by Indonesia), is ignored by key players who now find its apolitical terms of reference irrelevant.
1998, Nov. 9 About 50 East Timorese villagers and guerrillas attack an Indonesian military post at Alas, near Same, carrying off 13 soldiers and weapons. Indonesia launches a major military operation in response.
1998, Nov. 12 For the first time, a mass is held in Dili to commemorate the victims of the 12 Nov. 1991 Santa Cruz massacre.
1998, Dec. 23 Australian Prime Minister Howard, in a policy switch, writes to President Habibie suggesting Indonesia should consider the New Caledonian model of autonomy followed by a referendum.
1999
1999, Jan. 27 President Habibie announces he is prepared to allow a 'ballot' on autonomy or independence for East Timor. Australian Prime Minister Howard says he prefers East Timor to stay with Indonesia, but President Habibie later says he would like East Timor to be independent by 1 Jan. 2000.
1999, Feb. 16 SGI, the special forces (Kopassus)-dominated secret military intelligence group in Dili, calls a meeting to plan a militia campaign of terror against East Timorese demands for independence.
1999, Feb. According to leaked cables published in The Bulletin (Australia) on 6 Oct. 1999, Australian diplomats meeting with US and Portuguese officials argue against the need for peacekeepers in East Timor, even though they knew of the militia threats, because an early offer of a peacekeeping operation 'would remove any incentive for the East Timorese and Indonesians' to sort out their differences.
1999, March 4 US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visits Jakarta, meets Xanana Gusmao in the house prison where he has been since Jan., and expresses concern about Jakarta arming militias.
1999, April 5-6 Military-backed militias attack and kill civilians seeking sanctuary in a church in Liquica. Meanwhile an unprecedented CNRT conference in Melbourne considers the shape of an independent East Timor.
1999, May 5 The Indonesian and Portuguese Foreign Ministers and the United Nations Secretary General sign an agreement according to which all adult East Timorese will be asked to choose if they wish to accept autonomy within Indonesia, or reject autonomy and thus choose independence. The autonomy offer is more limited than was first proposed by the UN. The agreement puts Indonesia in charge of providing security for the ballot. The first of about 1000 foreign Unamet (United Nations Mission to East Timor) staff arrive within a fortnight.
1999, June 7 In Indonesia's first fair parliamentary elections since 1955, Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party (Struggle) wins 33% of the vote, followed by President Habibie's Golkar Party, and Abdurrachman Wahid's Party of National Awakening [PKB].
1999, 27 June Jose Ramos Horta meets Xanana Gusmao in the latter's prison house in Jakarta. It is their first face-to-face meeting since 1975.
1999, July 16 Voters in East Timor commence registration.
1999, Aug. 30 UN ballot takes place, after several delays due to militia violence against voters.
1999, Sept. 4 UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announces that 78.5% of East Timorese voters (with a 98.6% turnout) rejected autonomy with Indonesia. Almost immediately, pro-Indonesian militias begin a rampage of shooting, burning and herding people out of their homes.
1999, Sept. 6 UN Secretary General Kofi Annan gives Indonesia '48 hours' to bring the militias under control or face international action. Western government leaders echo his words.
1999, Sept. 7 Xanana Gusmao is released from detention in Jakarta. A few days after first taking refuge in the British Embassy, he commences a world tour to rally support for East Timor.
1999, Sept. 7 Saying he wants to control militia violence, Indonesian Armed Forces Commander General Wiranto declares martial law in East Timor, despite the refusal of cabinet and parliament to approve it.
1998, Sept. 7 Clinton administration and IMF separately warned Indonesia that financial aid could be suspended if violence not brought under control.
1999, Sept.9 US Defense Secretary William Cohen calls on Indonesia to stop the violence in East Timor, and warns of major economic consequences, but will not back a foreign peace-keeping force.
1999, Sept. 9 The Mayor of Dili warns that if foreign troops tried to enter East Timor they would be shot and violence would worsen unless the United Nations admits the ballot on self-determination was unfair.
1999, Sept. 9 Clinton demands that Indonesia permit international peacekeepers if it cannot end violence. President did not threaten cut off of economic aid nor did he cut off commercial arms sales but he did order the Pentagon to suspend formal contacts with Indonesian military and said he would consider economic sanctions if killings did not stop.
1999, Sept. 10 IMF suspends loan talks with Indonesia until East Timor violence ends, and suspends disbursement of next round of loans.
1999, Sept. 11 President Clinton condemns Indonesian backing of militia violence, warning it of "dire consequences" if it did not "reverse its course" and allow an international peace-keeping force. The US is to review "all aspects" of its economic assistance to Indonesia, says Clinton. He also announces suspension of all arms sales to Indonesia, including current orders worth $US100m.
1999, Sept. 11 Rich creditor countries suspend financial discussions with Indonesia.
1999, Sept. 11 Delegation of five UN ambassadors visits Dili, witnesses ongoing TNI-militia destruction. Secretary-General Annan warns Indonesia it could be held responsible for crimes against humanity. Annan says he has surprised at weakness of response from US and other nations, but welcomes pressure that has finally begun to mount.
1999, Sept. 11 General Wiranto accompanying UN ambassadors in Dili says he will recommend acceptance of a UN-sponsored international peace-keeping force "soon".
1999, Sept. 11 US ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, tells a Security Council debate that 'The government of Indonesia should understand that unless it reverses course immediately it faces the point of no return in its international relations". Secretary-General Annan and UN ambassadors of 50 member states condemn Indonesia. Indonesian Ambassador Makarim Wibisono rules out any multinational force for the, saying its imposition of martial law on Tuesday was already helping improve the security situation in the territory.
1999, Sept. 12 UN Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson calls for an international tribunal on crimes against humanity in east Timor.
1999, Sept. 12 President Clinton offers US airlift support for an international peacekeeping force.
1999, Sept. 12 Following a late night emergency Cabinet meeting, President Habibie announces Indonesia is inviting an international peacekeeping force into East Timor.
1999, Sept. 13 Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas arrives in New York, accompanied by a senior general, to 'invite' the UN to authorize an international force.
1999, Sept. 13 Press reports reveal that Australian Prime Minister Howard failed to persuade US President Clinton to commit ground troops to an international force on East Timor, but did manage to have East Timor's status raised from the 'C list' (non-vital humanitarian crisis that does not affect national interests) to the 'B list' (imminent threats to US interests).
1999, Sept. 20 The first troops in Operation Stabilise conducted by Australian-led InterFET (the International Force for East Timor) land in Dili. In subsequent days reports emerge that most towns and villages of East Timor are damaged by fires lit by militias, while some are totally destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of East Timorese are displaced into the mountains or across the border into West Timor.
1999, Sept. Indonesia announces suspension of 1995 Australia Indonesia Security Treaty.
1999, Oct. 20 Indonesia's highest legislative body (MPR) ratifies the UN ballot result by repealing the 1976 law integrating East Timor into Indonesia. The MPR votes to reject President Habibie's account of his handling of East Timor. Habibie immediately withdraws his nomination for the presidency.
1999, Oct. 20 Abdurrachman Wahid, chairman of the large traditionalist Islamic association Nahdatul Ulama and leader of the Party of National Awakening [PKB] is elected as Indonesia's fourth president by the People's Legislative Assembly [MPR]. Nominates Megawati Sukarnoputri, runner-up in the presidential contest, as Vice-President.
1999, Oct. 23 InterFET forces make an amphibious landing at Oecussi, the East Timorese enclave in West Timor, discovering that destruction prior to Indonesian withdrawal had left only one building in the town with a roof.
1999, Oct. 23 Jose Gusmao returns to East Timor after seven years.
1999, Oct. 25 Security Council resolution 1272 establishes the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor ( UNTAET).