UN Security Council resolution 1338

UN Security Council Resolution 1338
Date:	2001
Meeting:	4268
Identifier:	s / RES / 1338 (2001) ( document )
Poll:	Pro: 15  Ent. : 0  Cons: 0
Object:	The situation in East Timor
Result:	accepted
Composition of the Security Council 2001:
Permanent members:
CHN FRA GBR RUS USA
Non-permanent members:
BGD COL IRL JAM MLI
MUS NOR SGP TUN UKR

With the Resolution 1338 of the UN Security Council to extend the mandate has been United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) decided. The resolution was passed on January 31, 2001 with reference to resolutions 1272 and 1319 and the relevant declarations of the President of the UN Security Council, in particular those of August 3, 2000 (S / PRST / 2000/26) and December 6, 2000 (S / PRST / 2000/39) adopted.

background

After the Indonesian occupation from 1975 to 1999, East Timor (Timor-Leste) was initially under the United Nations' interim administration for East Timor (UNTAET). In the independence referendum on August 30, 1999, the population decided in favor of statehood and against internal autonomy within Indonesia. As a result, there was a final wave of violence by pro-Indonesian militias and Indonesian security personnel in which around 3,000 people died, East Timor's infrastructure was destroyed and a large part of the population had to flee or was forcibly evacuated to West Timor by the Indonesians. The international community responded by sending the International Armed Forces East Timor (INTEFET) to restore law and order. UNTAET took over the development of state institutions and the preparation of the territory for state independence.

See also : Operation Donner

On February 23, 2000, the military command passed from INTERFET to UNTAET. But refugees in West Timor were held in camps and murdered months after they were officially handed over to the UN peacekeeping mission. On July 24, 2000, a UN soldier from New Zealand was killed in an exchange of fire with a militia on the border with Indonesia. On August 10, a Nepalese UN soldier died fighting with a militia. On September 6, three UNHCR staff were in a refugee camp in Indonesia Atambua ( West Timor murdered). In 2001 the constituent assembly elections and the first presidential elections were to take place.

The resolution

Irish UN soldiers in East Timor (2001)

The UN Security Council took note of the report of the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan of January 16, 2001 (S / 2001/42). The work of UNTAET and its head, the UN special envoy for East Timor, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, was praised . The UN Security Council declared its support for the steps taken by UNTAET to strengthen the integration and direct participation of the East Timorese people in the administration of their territory and urged further measures to pass responsibility on to the people of East Timor. This is an essential part of the transition to independence. Efforts were encouraged to achieve the goal of East Timorese independence by the end of 2001, as provided for in paragraphs 4 and 50 of the Secretary-General's report. The responsibility of UNTAET to ensure free and fair elections together with the people of East Timor was recognized. The UN Security Council reiterated its recommendations from the report of the UN Security Council Mission to East Timor and Indonesia (S / 2000/1105) of November 21, 2000, particularly with a view to the need for strong international support for East Timor even after independence. The concerns of the UN Security Council about the continued existence of a large number of refugees from East Timor in camps in the Indonesian province of East Nusa-Tenggara (more precisely West Timor) and about the security situation there, especially because of the activity of militias and their effects on the refugees, are emphasized . The UN Security Council stressed the need to find a comprehensive solution to the problem. The UN Security Council recalled the relevant principles in the Convention for the Safety of Personnel of the United Nations and Affiliate Workers of December 9, 1994, noting the need to take further steps to ensure the safety of international personnel in East Timor and Indonesia to ensure the dangers. The need for further international financial support for East Timor was emphasized and urged all those who have announced donations to the trustee fund for East Timor to transfer them quickly.

The Secretary-General's report of January 16, 2001 was welcomed by the UN Security Council. He decided to extend UNTAET's current mandate until January 31, 2002, keeping in mind that adjustments to the timetable for the independence of East Timor may be necessary. The UN Special Envoy for East Timor has been tasked with continuously handing over further powers within the East Timor Transitional Administration (ETTA) to East Timorese until the authority is completely transferred to a government of an independent East Timor state , as provided for in the report of the Secretary General. UNTAET was encouraged to think about building capacity for independent government and to continue support for the transition to independence, including through the development and training of the East Timorese people. The UN Security Council called on the international financial institutions, United Nations funds and programs, and bilateral donors to meet the commitments offered and to accelerate disbursements, particularly in areas related to peacebuilding and development aid. The UN Security Council confirmed his view of the continuing need for effective coordination of development aid for East Timor. He urged the international community to provide financial and technical support for the development of East Timor's defense forces and welcomed the coordinating role of UNTAET in this enterprise. It was stressed that UNTAET should respond robustly to the threat posed by the militia in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1272 . The UN Security Council also stressed that, in view of the recommendations in the report of the Security Council Mission, action is necessary to remedy deficiencies in the administration of justice in East Timor, particularly in view of bringing those responsible for the serious crimes of 1999 to justice intended to accelerate the training of the Timor Lorosae Police Service and to obtain sufficient funds for the development of the police service and the judiciary. The Government of Indonesia is encouraged, knowing its progress to date, to take further steps in cooperation with UNTAET and relevant international agencies, in accordance with Resolution 1319 and the relevant recommendations in the Declaration of the President of the Security Council of December 6, 2000. The Secretary General is instructed to report to the Security Council by April 30, 2001 on the implementation of UNTAET's mandate, including a military and political assessment of the situation on site and its effects on the size, structure and operations of UNTAET. The UN Security Council declared that it would take appropriate steps swiftly on the basis of this report, taking into account the views of the troop-contributing countries. The UN Security Council saw a need for a significant international presence in East Timor even after independence. He instructed the Secretary General to formulate detailed recommendations on this matter and to present them within six months of the adoption of this resolution. These should be drawn up in close consultation with the East Timorese population and in coordination with other relevant international and bilateral actors, in particular the international financial institutions and the funds and programs of the United Nations. The UN Security Council decided to continue actively dealing with the matter.

Follow-up time

In the elections for the constituent assembly on August 30, 2001, FRETILIN won an absolute majority.

East Timor was given independence on May 20, 2002. The mandate of UNMISET was later extended to 2005, then replaced by the one-year follow-up mission to the United Nations Office in East Timor (UNOTIL). When unrest broke out in East Timor in 2006 , the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), together with the International Stabilization Force (ISF), became necessary. The UN missions in East Timor finally ended on December 31, 2012.

See also

• History of East Timor