Police in the capital of Dili, East Timor, assault a civilian who had urged them to intervene to stop a violent confrontation between a government-backed militia and pro-independence supporters, August 26, 1999. Immediately after this photo was taken by Time Magazine photographer John Stanmeyer, the officers shot and killed the man. (Photo credit: John Stanmeyer, Time Magazine; posted on Iconic Photos)
U.S. knew of Indonesian military’s creation, direction, and arming of militias in East Timor in 1998-1999, plans to “kill, drive out, or intimidate into silence independence activists” prior to historic vote
Posting of recently declassified documents marks 20th anniversary of key referendum