6 September 1999: East Timor press lines

After the UN announced the referendum result – a turnout of over 98%, with more than 78% rejecting Indonesian rule in favour of independence – the militia groups that had been operating since the previous year launched a major wave of mass violence. It was met with mass protests around the world. Press lines issued by DFAIT laid out the Canadian government assessment: the Indonesian army was clearly supporting the militia rather than halting its violence. The Security Council had sent a five-ambassador mission to Indonesia but Canada wanted more Council action (including contingency planning for what the UN might do next if violence continued).