- United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor
Infobox UN
name = United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor
caption = Filipino police officers serving with UNMIT in 2007
type = Peacekeeping Mission
acronyms = UNMIT
head =Atul Khare
status = Active
established =25 August 2006
website = http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmit/index.html
parent =United Nations Security Council
subsidiaries =
commons =
footnotes = The United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) was established onAugust 25 2006 by UN Security Council Resolution 1704UN document |docid=S-RES-1704(2006) |type=Resolution |body=Security Council |year=2006 |resolution_number=1704 |accessdate=2008-09-06] . Its objectives are "to support the Government in consolidating stability, enhancing a culture of democratic governance, and facilitating political dialogue among Timorese stakeholders, in their efforts to bring about a process of national reconciliation and to foster social cohesion". [ [http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmit/index.html UNMIT: United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste ] ] The UN Security Council extended UNMIT's mandate until26 February 2009 .UN document |docid=S-RES-1802(2008) |type=Resolution |body=Security Council |year=2008 |resolution_number=1802 |accessdate=2008-09-06]Past Missions
The
United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) (June—October 1999) was mandated to organize and conduct a popular consultation to ascertain whether the East Timorese people accepted a special autonomy within Indonesia or rejected the proposed special autonomy, leading to East Timor's separation from Indonesia . UNAMET was a political mission.The
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) (October 1999—May 2002) was a peacekeeping operation. The Security Council established UNTAET following rejection by the East Timorese of special autonomy. UNTAET exercised administrative authority over East Timor during the transition to independence.The
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) (May 2002—May 2005), also a peacekeeping mission, was mandated to provide assistance to the newly independent East Timor until all operational responsibilities were fully devolved to the East Timor authorities, and to permit the new nation, now called Timor-Leste, to attain self-sufficiency.Once the peacekeeping mission withdrew, a new political mission, the
United Nations Office in East Timor (UNOTIL) (May 2005—August 2006), supported the development of critical State institutions and the police and provided training in observance of democratic governance and human rights.Background
UNOTIL was scheduled to end its mandate in May 2006, and the Security Council had already received the UN Secretary-General's recommendations for the post-UNOTIL period. However, a series of events culminating in a political, humanitarian and security crisis of major dimensions led the Council to prolong UNOTIL's mandate, ultimately to 20 August 2006, and to request new recommendations taking into account the need for a strengthened United Nations presence. Against this background, East Timor urgently requested police and military assistance from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Portugal. On 26 May, incoming international forces began securing key installations in the country.
Request for a new mission
On 11 June 2006, the President of East Timor, the President of the National Parliament and the Prime Minister wrote to the Secretary-General requesting that he propose to the Security Council to establish a United Nations police force in East Timor to maintain law and order until the national police could undergo reorganization and restructuring. The Secretary-General requested his Special Envoy, appointed on 25 May 2006 , to lead a multidisciplinary assessment mission to East Timor to identify the scope of tasks to be undertaken by a post-UNOTIL mission and to develop recommendations for a future UN presence. The mission conducted its assessment from 26 June to 9 July.
ecretary-General's recommendations
The Secretary-General recommended the establishment of a United Nations multidimensional, integrated mission, with the mandate to support the Government of East Timor and to assist it in its efforts to bring about a process of national reconciliation; to support the country in all aspects of the 2007 presidential and parliamentary electoral process; to ensure, through the presence of United Nations police with an executive policing mandate, the restoration and maintenance of public security; to assist in liaising with the Indonesian military through the impartial presence of United Nations Military Liaison Officers; and to assist in further strengthening the national capacity for the monitoring, promotion and protection of human rights.
The mandate would also include provisions to assist the Prosecutor-General in resuming the investigative functions of the former Serious Crimes Unit; mainstream gender perspectives and those of children and youth; and ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel. The Secretary-General recommends that the mission be established for an initial period of 12 months, until after the implementation of the 2007 election results.
To fulfil the mandate of the mission, a strong civilian component would be required. The component would include a United Nations civilian police element of substantially greater strength than that in UNOTIL, with the support of a small United Nations military component. The mission would operate under the leadership of the Secretary-General's Special Representative. The Special Representative would have overall authority over other United Nations activities in East Timor in support of the mission's mandate, and would provide leadership, political guidance and support to the United Nations system in this regard. The Special Representative would be assisted by a senior management team, comprising among others, a police commissioner and a force commander.
The Special Representative would be supported by a political affairs unit, a planning and best practices unit, a legal affairs unit, a conduct and discipline unit, a public information and outreach unit, a joint operations centre, a joint mission analysis centre, a resident auditor's unit and a senior gender adviser.
Establishment of UNMIT
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