East Timor’s vote for independence

Review of a book presenting eyewitness reports and backgrounds to diverse aspects of the vote in East Timor for its indepedence from Indonesia (1999) and the violence occurring in this period. Guns and ballot boxes deals with the dramatic episode in East Timor's history surrounding the referendum to determine the future status of that territory. Quite unexpectedly, in January. 1999 the Indonesian president Habibie announced his willingness to grant the option of independence to the East Timorese, whose territory Indonesia had annexed some 23 years earlier. A popular consultation was prepared in talks between Indonesia, the United Nations and the former colonial ruler Portugal. It was agreed that the United Nations would provide an assistance mission (UNAMET) to counsel the population and to supervise the ballot, while Indonesia would be in charge of guaranteeing security. […]