UN transitional administration in East Timor

Security Council sets up UN transitional administration in East Timor.

25 October -- The Security Council today decided to set up a United Nations authority in East Timor with a broad mandate designed to help the territory's transition to independence.

By a unanimous vote the Council established the UN Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET) that will exercise all legislative and executive authority, including the administration of justice, and have a military component of up to 8,950 troops, 200 military observers and 1,640 civilian police.

Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Council authorized UNTAET to take "all necessary measures to fulfil its mandate" which initially covers the period through 31 January 2001 and follows closely the recommendations of Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented in his recent report to the Council.

According to the resolution, UNTAET will provide security and maintain law and order, establish an administration and help develop civil and social services in the ruined territory. It will also coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, support capacity-building for self-government and help establish conditions for sustainable development.

In addition to the military component, UNTAET will comprise a governance and public administration authority as well as a humanitarian assistance and emergency rehabilitation component.

The UN peacekeepers will take over from the Australian-led multinational force sent to East Timor after pro-integrationist forces waged a campaign of violence and destruction following the territory's vote for independence from Indonesia. The rampage forced some 500,000 of East Timor's 890,000 persons from their homes.

In its resolution, the Council condemned the violence and expressed concern at reports indicating that "systematic, widespread and flagrant" violations of international humanitarian and human rights law were committed in East Timor. The Council called on all parties to cooperate with investigations into these reports.

ENDS

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