President Suharto was to characterize in conversation with US president Gerald Ford
as 'communist-influenced'.
On 28 November 1975, in the context of repeated cross-border attacks by
Indonesian special forces seeking to provoke civil war and thus provide an alibi for
intervention, FRETIUN declared Timor's independence. A little over a week later, on
7 December 1975, Indonesia launched a general invasion of Timor, carried out with
the knowledge and tacit support of the US, UK and Australian governments. This
support was motivated by issues of regional security, concern that an independent Timor
might align itself with China and, in the case of Australia, the desire to secure access to
Timor Sea oil and gas. Indonesia was to remain in military occupation of Timor for the
next 25 years.