Page 87 - Medals of the Irish Defence Forces

Medals of the Irish Defence Forces

INtERfEt

the International force East timor Medal

mission:
The International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) was a multinational
peacekeeping taskforce, mandated by the United Nations to address
the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from
1999–2000 until the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers.

The INTERFET coalition forces began deploying to East Timor on 20
September 1999 Five months later, on 28 February 2000, INTERFET
handed over command of military operations to UNTAET (United Nations
Transitional Administration in East Timor).

conditions of award:
In 1999, Australia led the international force that saw the removal of the
occupying Indonesian power from the former Portuguese territory of East
Timor. To recognise the importance of this operation, the International
Force East Timor (INTERFET) medal was established in 2000. As well as
being awarded to members of the ADF, the INTERFET medal was offered
by Australia to all countries that provided contingents to the International
Force in East Timor.
oBvERSE
the medal:
The INTERFET Medal is a cast metal medal with the obverse having an
outline map of East Timor and its territories, combined with an outline
figure of the dove of peace with olive branch, surrounded by the words
‘INTERNATIONAL FORCE EAST TIMOR’. The reverse has the words
‘TOGETHER AS ONE FOR PEACE IN EAST TIMOR’ around the
circumference.

the ribbon:
The ribbon has a central red stripe, flanked by stripes of green, white and
pale blue. The white, green and blue stripes represent the Navy, Army
REvERSE
and Air Force, with dual representation of white for peace, blue for the
sea surrounding East Timor and green for the regrowth of a new nation.
The central red stripe represents the turbulent past of East Timor.

Eligibility:
RIBBoN
The basic eligibility requirement for the INTERFET Medal is 30 days
service in the prescribed area during the period 16 Sep 99 – 10 Apr 00.

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