1999/12 - United Nations mission of support in East Timor

n August 1999, East Timor fell into chaos as violent clashes broke out between pro-independence and pro-Indonesian supporters. A month later, Australia led the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) into the warring country to help restore order. INTERFET was replaced by the UN Transitional Administration to East Timor (UNTAET) in December 1999.

In January 2000, the RSAF sent a C-130 detachment, consisting of 24 crew members and three officers, to assist in the transition to UNTAET by providing airlift support between Darwin and East Timor. After East Timor – now Timor-Leste – gained independence, UNTAET was replaced by the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) in May 2002.

At the UN's request, Singapore increased its peacekeeping efforts in Timor-Leste from a platoon to a company. The RSAF also contributed a 72-man detachment comprising four UH-1H helicopters from 120 Squadron to provide direct aerial support to UNMISET forces in south-western Timor-Leste. The RSAF team remained active in East Timor until the mission concluded in May 2002.

RSAF personnel on board a UH-1H during the peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste.

“We provided airlift support for passengers as well as cargo…At the same time, we also provided backup aeromedical evacuation standby. SAF training for us has been significant in a way that it has prepared us adequately to assimilate fairly quickly into the flying operations that we are tasked to do.”

MAJ Peter Lim, Commanding Officer, 122 Squadron, 2000 on Singapore’s contribution to this large peacekeeping effort