United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor

United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
AbbreviationUNTAET
PredecessorIndonesian occupation of East Timor
SuccessorEast Timor
Formation25 October 1999
TypeSpecial political mission
Legal statusCompleted
HeadquartersDili, East Timor
Parent organization
United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), (Portuguese: Administração Transitória das Nações Unidas em Timor Leste), was a United Nations mission in East Timor that aimed to solve the decades long East Timorese crisis in the area occupied by Indonesian military. UNTAET provided an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission in the territory of East Timor, from its establishment on 25 October 1999,[1] until its independence on 20 May 2002, following the outcome of the East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum. The transitional administration was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1272 in 1999.

A rarity for United Nations peacekeeping missions, UNTAET involved the United Nations directly administering the territory of East Timor. The mission's responsibilities included providing a peacekeeping force to maintain security and order; facilitating and co-ordinating relief assistance to the East Timorese; facilitating emergency rehabilitation of physical infrastructure; administering East Timor and creating structures for sustainable governance and the rule of law; and assisting in the drafting of a new constitution and conducting elections.[1]

UNTAET was established on 25 October 1999, the mission was led by Sérgio Vieira de Mello of Brazil (Special Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor). The International Force East Timor (INTERFET) transitioned to the UNTAET Peacekeeping Force (PKF) in February 2000 and was commanded by Filipino military officer Lieutenant General Jaime de los Santos (Force Commander UNTAET).[2][3] UNTAET was abolished on 20 May 2002, with most functions passed to the East Timor government. The military and police forces were transferred to the newly created United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor (UNMISET).

New Zealand M113A1 armoured personnel carriers of UNTAET at the Gate Pā base in the southern Suai area, 2002
UN Police car in Dili

UNTAET was wound up upon East Timorese independence but a United Nations presence in East Timor would continue through a newly established United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).

  1. ^ a b United Nations Security Council Resolution 1272. S/RES/1272(1999) (1999) Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  2. ^ "US Dollar New Official Currency of East Timor, Central Payments Office Established". United Nations Peacekeeping (Press release). United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. 24 January 2000. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  3. ^ "UN Soldiers Now Safeguard East Timor" (PDF). Tais Timor. Vol. 1, no. 1. UNTAET Office of Communication and Public Information. 14 February 2000. p. 1. OCLC 49547887.

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