Members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET), observers and locally employed staff, ...

Members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET), observers and locally employed staff, gathered around a sealed ballot box prior to the start of voting on the referendum for East Timorese independence in the village of Poetete. Identified, left to right: unidentified Australian civilian observer; Wayne Corbett, New Zealand Police Officer; unidentified locally employed staff; Gloria, of the Philippines; Sam, a United Nations District Electoral Officer from Ghana; two unidentified locally employed staff. UNAMET was sent to East Timor on 11 June 1999, to organise, conduct and supervise the referendum, held on 30 August 1999, to allow the East Timorese to choose between autonomy within Indonesia or independence. Following the overwhelming vote for independence, the pro-Indonesian militia launched a campaign of destruction, arson and murder, killing approximately 1500 people and forcing 300,000 others into West Timor as refugees. Due to this the mandate of UNAMET was extended from 31 August 1999 to 30 September 1999, although most members were evacuated by 20 September when the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) was sent in.