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To: goldsnow who wrote (14250)	8/27/1999 7:39:00 PM
From: Douglas V. Fant	Respond to of 17770

An historic vote Monday in East Timor..... Chronology of East Timor's recent history August 27, 1999 Web posted at: 8:16 AM EDT (1216 GMT) JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) -- The final day of campaigning for Monday's independence referendum began in East Timor on Friday, a day after at least five people were killed in violent clashes. Following is a chronology of the main events in Timor's history since Portugal began decolonisation in 1974. 1974 April 25 - Armed forces coup in Lisbon leads to a new government which begins a policy of decolonisation. 1975 August 27 - Portuguese governor and administration withdraw from East Timor capital Dili to offshore island of Atauro. November 28 - After a brief civil war, left-wing Fretilin party declares East Timor independent. November 29 - Indonesian Foreign Minister Adam Malik signs a declaration integrating the territory into Indonesia. December 7 - Indonesian troops invade East Timor. An estimated 200,000 people -- a quarter of the population -- die during the military crackdown and famine that follow. 1976 July 17 - President Suharto signs bill formally declaring East Timor Indonesia's 27th province. United Nations does not recognise this and says Portugal remains administering power. 1983 February - UN Commission on Human Rights adopts resolution affirming East Timor's right to independence. 1991 November 12 - Indonesian troops fire on a procession after the Dili funeral of an anti-Indonesia activist. An official report says 50 people died. Human rights groups say the toll was at least 180. 1992 August - UN adopts resolution condemning Indonesian human rights violations in Timor. November 20 - Guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao captured. The following year he is convicted of subversion and sentenced to life in prison, later commuted to 20 years. 1996 October 11 - East Timor Bishop Carlos Belo and self-exiled resistance spokesman Jose Ramos-Horta awarded Nobel Peace prize. December 24 - Tens of thousands greet Belo on his return from Europe. Off-duty Indonesian soldier carrying pistol killed by crowd at Dili cathedral amid rumours of plot to kill Belo. 1998 May 1 - Suharto is forced from power amid a crippling economic crisis, mass protests against his 32-year rule and savage riots in Jakarta. He is replaced by B.J. Habibie. June 9 - Habibie tells Reuters he will consider offering "special status" and wider autonomy to East Timor but insists the territory will remain part of Indonesia. Portugal rejects the idea. June 27 - Hundreds of pro-independence protesters clash with government supporters in Dili after a youth is shot by troops trying to quell an earlier clash outside the city. August 8 - Indonesia says all combat troops withdrawn. October 30 - Leaked military documents show troop numbers in East Timor have not been cut despite the government's claims. November 22 - A former governor of East Timor says 44 people killed in a military crackdown. The International Committee of the Red Cross says its investigations do not substantiate the report. 1999 January 11 - Australia says it would back independence for the territory if East Timorese decided to reject autonomy. January 27 - Indonesia announces its highest legislative body may discuss independence for East Timor if the territory rejects autonomy. February 10 - Gusmao is moved out of prison and placed under house arrest. February 24 - Portugal calls for a permanent U.N. presence in East Timor to help prevent violence. February 25 - Indonesian troops fire on pro-independence youths in East Timor, killing three. Thousands attend their funeral. February 27 - Gusmao calls for a U.N.-sponsored transitional government to guide the move to independence, backed by an unarmed international police force. April 5 - Pro-independence sources say Indonesia loyalists and troops killed at least 17 civilians. Gusmao orders guerrillas and East Timorese populace to resume war against Indonesia and pro-Jakarta loyalist militias. April 21 - East Timor's warring factions sign a peace pact aimed at ending spiralling violence. May 5 - Indonesia and Portugal sign landmark accords to enable the people of East Timor to vote on their future in an independence ballot. UN Endorses the deal May 7. June 18 - Rival armed factions agree to surrender their weapons and maintain peace. June 26 - East Timorese resistance leader Jose Ramos-Horta visits Indonesia for the first time since it invaded his homeland and forced him into exile more than two decades ago. July 28 - UN postpones ballot date for second time to August 30. August 26 - At least five people are killed in street battles between opponents of Jakarta's rule armed with rocks and iron bars and pro-Jakarta militia armed with automatic weapons.