Nothing fades as fast as an international crisis that seems to be settled, as proved by the almost complete disappearance of East Timor from Australian newspapers and television screens. James Dunn's updating of his history to cover its foundation as an independent nation reminds us of its continuing importance to international politics.

His third edition drops the title of the first two, "Timor: A People Betrayed", and celebrates the independence for which the East Timorese fought for more than two decades.

At the same time it provides an essential reminder of the barbarity of the Indonesian military machine in trying to deny the East Timorese people the independence conceded by its national government, and the difficulties the East Timorese face in building a viable economy as well as a workable democracy.

It also takes us back to the international deal that enabled Indonesia to invade East Timor in 1975 after four centuries of Portuguese rule. The decision of the Whitlam Government, in conjunction with the US Administration, to turn a blind eye caused what Dunn describes as 'a tragedy which cost more than 200,000 lives'.

The fall of the Suharto Government in 1998 and the arrival of Dr B. J. Habibie as the new Indonesian president gave the independence advocates in East Timor their first hope of getting rid of Indonesian authority, and the East Timorese militia it had created. With the help of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Habibie proposed a form of autonomy. When, six months later, John Howard urged him to address the Timorese desire for self determination, Australia reversed its long-standing support for continuing Indonesian control and dipped its toe into the question of independence.

That brought in the United Nations and its Assistance Mission for East Timor (UNAMET), in which Dunn was a volunteer observer, to prepare for a referendum which would ask the East Timorese if they wanted autonomy from Indonesia. When 78 per cent of the 98 per cent of eligible citizens who turned out voted no for autonomy and thus yes for independence, the 17,000 Indonesian military in East Timor and their supporting militia reacted immediately.

Dunn reports that, a few days after the announcement of the referendum result, Dili was on fire and hundreds of thousands of East Timorese had been ordered to leave or had fled inland. An indication of the depth of destruction wrought by the military is his estimate that they deliberately destroyed some 74 per cent of the houses and buildings in East Timor.

The arrival of the Australian-dominated interFET force and the later formation of the United National Transitional Authority for East Timor (UNTAET), in which Dunn was an adviser, brought an end to Indonesian reprisals and a rapid transfer to East Timorese control. Dunn praises the spirit in which it was achieved, but is critical of some aspects.

He is obviously impressed by the competence and outlook of President Xanana Gusmao, but questions some of his priorities, particularly his emphasis on reconciliation between different groups in East Timor. While he acknowledges that his outlook has healed relationships between supporters of independence and those favouring autonomy, he believes this is only a part of the need for accommodation of past injustice. In the interest of establishing the long-term relationship between Indonesia and East Timor on 'a frank and enduring' basis, he sees a need for an international tribunal to try those Indonesians responsible for crimes against humanity.

He is also sceptical of the prospects for economic development, labelling it "not one of the great successes" of the activities of UNTAET. He acknowledges the "glittering hope" attributed to the Timor Gap gas exploitation, but points out that it will not be a significant contributor to revenue until the end of the decade.

Rice and maize production have recovered to the levels of 1999 and coffee has also increased substantially, but at lower world prices. Unemployment levels have remained "dangerously high, posing a serious threat to security and political stability". He would also like to see more activity in tourism, pointing to the beauty of the countryside and the richness and diversity of the culture as attractions, particularly to Australians who have been committed supporters of East Timor.

In that context, he is careful to distinguish between the people and the government. He describes our national foreign policy as having a history of "ruthlessly opportunistic diplomatic manoeuvres that do nothing to encourage complacency". But he places much faith in the attitude of the Australian people, which he describes as "a commitment that has become a matter of public conscience".

This is an interesting update to a book that has provided an informed and insightful view of East Timor since its first edition in 1983, but it could usefully be embellished. The UN phase of the East Timor story has had little coverage, apart from the well-balanced account by Ian Martin, head of the UNAMET operation. If James Dunn would write a full account of the independence phase his considerable contribution to a country in which he has been involved for four decades would be strengthened.