25th Anniversary of the INTERFET (International Force for East Timor)
September 20 marks the 25th anniversary of the deployment of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET), a peacekeeping force that intervened in Timor-Leste to respond to the humanitarian and security crisis that occurred between 1999 and 2000. INTERFET, led by Australia, included the participation of 21 countries, which made an important contribution at a critical time in the country's history.
The celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the INTERFET Mission begin on September 13th, 2024, with a series of lectures and a reception ceremony to be held at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, from 13:30 to 17:30, and a formal reception from 17:30 to 19:30.
The lectures, under the theme “Configuring INTERFET intervention: The case of East Timor”, will feature keynote speakers the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, as well as several international guests, such as Tamrat Samuel, Fernando d ‘Oliveira Neves, Paulo Rangel, Dino Patti Djalal, Penny Wensley AC, Michael Smith AO, and Peter Cosgrove. The sessions will be moderated by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, and Professor David Kilcullen.
On September 14th, the celebrations will continue with a parade from the Port of Dili to the Presidential Palace, followed by the blessing of the INTERFET Memorial, located on the former heliport used by the peacekeeping force next to the Presidential Palace. These activities will take place between 7am and 10am, with the official opening by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and speeches by Minister Agio Pereira and the former INTERFET Commander, Martyn Dun, at the inauguration of the memorial.
Between 4:30pm and 8:30pm, futsal matches, and a concert will take place in the Presidential Palace and on the adjacent futsal field. The first game, a women's soccer match, will pit the Ministry of Defense against the F-FDTL, and the second game will be between a team from East Timor and a team from the United Nations. The concert will feature performances by the Smith Brothers, Australian Army, F-FDTL & Gurkhas, and Dili All Stars.
On September 20, the date marking the arrival of INTERFET in Timor-Leste, a solemn ceremony and a futsal tournament between national veterans and former INTERFET members will be held at the headquarters of the Council of National Liberation Fighters (CCLN), between 8:00 and 11:30.
