"In 1999, the people of East Timor were allowed to vote on whether to become an independent nation or to become a province of Indonesia. Over 90% voted for independence, but what followed shocked the world.

Indonesian hardliners, reluctant to lose their annexed territory, began violent retribution against the East Timorese. Indonesian-backed militia began widespread violence; looting, murdering and razing buildings to the ground.

The United Nations Security Council authorised Peace Keeping Operations to begin to stablise the country, but until that force could be raised, Australia led a Peace Enforcement operation to bring stability to the land and to protect the East Timorese from further violence. What ensued was the largest military operation for Australia since the Vietnam War.

Operation STABILISE was the codename given to the operation and so the International Force East Timor -known as InterFET - was led by Australia under the command of LTGEN Peter Cosgrove and this print commemorates not only that operation, but the Peace Keeping operation which succeeded it under UN command known as Operation TANAGER.

Lithographic Prints of this artwork are available:

Print size is 500mm x 700mm.

Price $70.00