United Nations Mission in East Timor

UNAMET
operation area	East Timor
German name	United Nations Mission in East Timor
English name	United Nations Mission in East Timor
Based on UN resolution	1246 (June 11, 1999)
Other UN resolutions	1257 (August 3, 1999)
Beginning	June 11, 1999
The End	October 25, 1999
management	Ian Martin ( United Kingdom )
Location of the operational area

The United Nations Mission in East Timor shortly UNAMET (of English. United Nations Mission in East Timor ) was an observer mission of the United Nations that the referendum on the independence of East Timor from Indonesia should monitor. The mission is based on UN Security Council Resolution 1246 , began on June 11, 1999, was extended on August 3 with Resolution 1257 , and ended about two months after the referendum on October 25 of the same year. In the referendum on August 30, 1999, the population of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia by a clear majority. Due to the violent attacks by pro-Indonesian militias , especially after the final result was announced, UNAMET was replaced by the international intervention force INTERFET .

background

Indonesia occupied East Timor in 1975 nine days after its declaration of independence from Portugal and later annexed it as the 27th province. Since then, a guerrilla war has raged in the country . As a result of this and other consequences of the occupation, almost a quarter of the population died. The end of the Suhar dictatorship and increasing pressure from the international community paved the way for negotiations to resolve the conflict. Finally, Indonesia and the National Council of the Timorese Resistance CNRT agreed to hold a referendum .

mandate

The ballot paper was marked with symbols for illiterate people

The mission had the task of organizing and carrying out the referendum on the basis of a direct and secret election. The aim was to determine whether the residents of East Timor would accept the proposed constitutional framework, which provides for East Timor's special autonomy within the unitary republic of Indonesia, or whether they would vote for East Timor's independence from Indonesia. The Indonesian police were responsible for the security and the peaceful course of the election.

280 plainclothes police officers were dispatched to advise the Indonesian police in the performance of their duties. In addition, the transport of ballot papers and urns to and from the polling stations was monitored during the referendum. In addition, 50 liaison officers were deployed as part of the mission to maintain contact with the Indonesian armed forces in order to allow the UN Secretary-General to carry out his duties under the General Agreement and the Security Agreement. Jamsheed Marker from Pakistan has been appointed personal plenipotentiary of the UN Secretary General .

When four local UNAMET employees were killed on September 8, the United Nations ordered the withdrawal. After Indonesia's approval, it was decided on September 15 to send the INTERFET.