August 1999: East Timorese Vote for Independence

East Timorese head for the polls and vote overwhelmingly (78.5 percent) for independence. Turnout is estimated at 99 percent, despite there having been intense intimidation from Indonesian troops to discourage voting. Angered by the vote, the Indonesian military-backed, anti-independence militias launch a terror campaign across East Timor, creating approximately 200,000 to 300,000 refugees. The UN evacuates, leaving the East Timorese at the mercy of the Indonesian forces. [John Pilger, 1994; BBC, 9/4/1999; BBC, 11/5/1999; BBC, 11/26/2005]