ABSTRACT

Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and occupied it for the next 24 years with the military and diplomatic support of major powers. Despite its insistence that its annexation was irreversible, Indonesia was forced to withdraw in 1999, resulting in an independent East Timor. This article explains how the 24-year war against East Timor ended by analysing the three pillars on which Indonesia’s control rested: its military superiority over the East Timorese resistance; the support of the international community; and its determination to retain the territory. Indonesia’s overwhelming military superiority persisted until the very end. East Timorese resistance and international solidarity weakened international support for the occupation. Indonesia’s determination to retain the territory underwent a complete reversal over the course of 1999. The East Timorese resistance was successful although they lacked a land border with a friendly state, an external supplier of weapons, or a liberated area in which to recover between guerrilla operations.

摘要

印度尼西亚于 1975 年入侵东帝汶，并在大国的军事和外交支持下占领了该地区 24 年。尽管坚持认为其吞并不可逆转，但印度尼西亚于 1999 年被迫退出，从而导致东帝汶独立。本文通过分析印度尼西亚控制的三大支柱来解释对东帝汶长达 24 年的战争如何结束：它对东帝汶抵抗的军事优势；国际社会的支持；以及保留领土的决心。印尼压倒性的军事优势一直持续到最后。东帝汶的抵抗和国际团结削弱了国际社会对占领的支持。印度尼西亚保留领土的决心在 1999 年完全逆转。