Timor-Leste: Acting UN Police Commissioner Named

Timor-Leste: New Acting UN Police Commissioner Named

As part of United Nations efforts to foster stability in Timor-Leste, Police Advisor Antero Lopes has been designated Acting Police Commissioner for the UN peacekeeping operation in the country, where he worked previously on law enforcement issues.

Mr. Lopes joined the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste <" http://www.unmiset.org/">(UNMIT) in mid-August. He had previously assisted in the planning of the police component of the new Mission as a member of the assessment mission led by Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Envoy, Ian Martin, in June.

His deployment with UNMIT during this transitional period will facilitate discussions with the Timorese Government on policing matters as well as the smooth implementation of the recommendations on the establishment of the police component including ensuring the restoration and maintenance of public security through the provision of support to the Timorese national police.

Mr. Lopes comes to the job from UN Headquarters, where he served as Deputy Police Advisor and Head of Operations Support in the Police Division, which he helped to establish nearly six years ago.

In 2000, Mr. Lopes held the post of Deputy Police Commissioner in <" http://www.un.org/peace/etimor/etimor.htm">(UNTAET) following positions as Police Spokesperson and First Special Assistant.

In a recent interview, Mr. Lopes said “I’ve been here before and I am acquainted with the reality of Timor-Leste. Our job is to serve and protect the interests of the population of Timor-Leste.”

>From 1993 to 1995 Mr. Lopes served as a Regional Commander and Chief of Operations in the former Yugoslavia, where he was also co-founder of the project that lead to the Human Rights Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He has been instrumental in conducting assessment missions, coordinating planning and working in support of police operations in Haiti, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Côte d’Ivoire, Kosovo, Afghanistan and other.

“I am pleased to have on board a UN Police Commissioner of the caliber of Antero Lopes, not just because of his high competence level, but because I know that the Timorese people will benefit from his experience in capacity-building and in helping to reconstitute a national police force that will ensure service to the population is a priority, Special Representative for the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste Sukehiro Hasegawa said.

Ends

© Scoop Media