Chronology of main events in East Timor's history

Chronology of main events in East Timor's history

JAKARTA (Agencies): East Timor's Aug. 30 ballot on its future status produced an overwhelming vote rejecting the offer of wide- ranging autonomy under Indonesia.

The following is a chronology of the main events in East Timor's history since Portugal began decolonization in 1974.

1974: April 25 - An Armed forces coup in Lisbon leads to a new government which begins a policy of decolonization.

1975: Aug. 27 - Portuguese governor and administration withdraw from the East Timor capital of Dili to the offshore island of Atauro. Nov. 28 - After a brief civil war, left-wing Fretilin party unilaterally declares East Timor independent. Nov. 29 - Indonesian foreign minister Adam Malik signs a declaration integrating the territory into Indonesia. Dec. 7 - Indonesian troops enter East Timor.

1976: July 17 - President Soeharto signs a bill formally declaring East Timor Indonesia's 27th province.

1983: February - UN Commission on Human Rights adopts a resolution affirming East Timor's right to independence.

1991: Nov. 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. Nov. 20 - Guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao is captured. He is convicted of subversion and sentenced to life in prison, which is later commuted to 20 years.

1996: Oct. 11 - East Timor Bishop Carlos Belo and self-exiled resistance spokesman Jose Ramos-Horta awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

Dec. 24 - Tens of thousands greet Belo on his return from Europe. An off-duty Indonesian soldier carrying a pistol is killed by a crowd at Dili cathedral amid rumors of a plot to kill Belo.

1998: May 21 - Soeharto 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 27 - Hundreds of proindependence protesters clash with government supporters in Dili after a youth is shot by troops trying to quell an earlier clash outside the city.

Aug. 8 - Indonesia says all combat troops withdrawn.

1999: Jan. 11 - Australia says it will back independence for the territory if East Timorese decide to reject autonomy.

Jan. 27 - Indonesia announces its highest legislative body may discuss independence for East Timor if the territory rejects autonomy.

Feb. 10 - Gusmao is moved out of prison and placed under house arrest.

Feb. 25 - Indonesian troops fire on proindependence youths in East Timor, killing three. Thousands attend their funeral.

April 21 - East Timor's warring factions sign a peace pact aimed at ending spiraling 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 on 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 he went into self-exile more than two decades ago.

July 28 - UN postpones ballot date for second time to Aug. 30.

Aug. 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.

Aug. 30 - Nearly 99 percent of East Timor's more than 450,000- strong electorate vote in a U.N.-organized ballot on independence.

Aug. 31 - One local UN staff member is killed by militias in the town of Gleno. Two more are missing and believed dead.

Sept. 2 - Two UN staff members are killed by militia. Hundreds, including journalists, flee the tense region and board military aircraft.

Sept. 3 - More Indonesian troops are sent to East Timor.

Sept. 4 - The vote result is announced, showing 78.5 percent of voters reject the offer of wide-ranging autonomy with Indonesia. The overwhelming result prompts fears of fresh violence by militias, with reports of their mass buildup in and around Dili.