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Administration welcomes East Timor independence referendum and urges calm

Name: Administration welcomes East Timor independence referendum and urges calm
Start: 1999-08-30
Location: United States

On Aug 30, 1999, after residents of East Timor voted overwhelmingly for independence from Indonesia in a UN-organized referendum, the Clinton administration publicly welcomed the result and called on Indonesian authorities and militia to maintain order and protect civilians.

The referendum and the U.S. response helped propel international action to quell post-vote violence and set the stage for a multinational peacekeeping intervention that ultimately led to East Timor's path to independence.

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