UN Security Council resolution 1257

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Security
Council Resolution 1257
Date: 1999
Meeting: 4045
Identifier: s / RES / 1257 (1999) ( document )
Poll: Pro: 15  Ent. : 0  Cons: 0
Object: Establishment of the UNAMET
Result: accepted
UN medal for UNAMET and UNTAET

Resolution 1257 of the UN Security Council was on 3. August 1999 having regard to the Resolution 1246 adopted unanimously. The United Nations thus decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET).

background

In 1974 Indonesia occupied the previous colony of Portuguese Timor when it was in the process of gaining independence. Since then, a guerrilla war has raged between East Timorese and Indonesians, who annexed the country in 1975 in violation of international law. 183,000 people died directly and indirectly as a result of the occupation. In 1999 the former colonial powers Portugal and Indonesia agreed to hold an independence referendum in East Timor on the future of the country. But already at the beginning of 1999 pro-Indonesian militias ( Wanra ) began to intimidate the population through violence. Resolution 1246 resolved to send police advisers and liaison officers within UNAMET to guarantee free voting. However, the violence continued in East Timor.

The resolution

The UN Security Council took note of the report of the Secretary General of July 28, 1999 (S / 1999/830) in which he informed the President of the Security Council of his decision to postpone the referendum to August 30 and therefore the Council to extend the mandate to ask the UNAMET for a month. The mandate was extended to September 30, 1999.

consequences

In it, a clear majority of East Timorese opted for independence from Indonesia, which led to a final wave of violence by the Wanra and Indonesian security forces. 2,000 to 3,000 people were killed and around three quarters of the population of East Timor were on the run or were displaced. With Resolution 1264 of the UN Security Council , the Security Council therefore decided to deploy a military reaction force ( INTERFET ). East Timor came under UN administration ( UNTAET ) until its independence in 2002 .

See also