Dear supporters of East Timor
Below is a very important resolution from the UN on the issue of East Timor
Please circulate widely
In solidarity
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Information Officer
Campaign for an Independent East TImor (South Australia) Inc
Phone: 61 8 83710480 (home) 61 8 82053259 (work)
Pager: 61 8 82734382 Facsimile: 61 8 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
UNITED NATIONS
Distr. GENERAL
S/RES/1272 (1999)
25 October 1999
RESOLUTION 1272 (1999)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 4057th meeting,
on 25 October 1999
The Security Council,
Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President on
the situation in East Timor, in particular resolutions 384 (1975) of 22
December 1975, 389 (1976) of 22 April 1976, 1236 (1999) of 7 May 1999, 1246
(1999) of 11 June 1999, 1262 (1999) of 27 August 1999 and 1264 (1999) of 15
September 1999,
Recalling also the Agreement between Indonesia and Portugal on the question
of East Timor of 5 May 1999 and the Agreements between the United Nations
and the Governments of Indonesia and Portugal of the same date regarding
the modalities for the popular consultation of the East Timorese through a
direct ballot and security arrangements (S/1999/513, annexes I to III),
Reiterating its welcome for the successful conduct of the popular
consultation of the East Timorese people of 30 August 1999, and taking note
of its outcome through which the East Timorese people expressed their clear
wish to begin a process of transition under the authority of the United
Nations towards independence, which it regards as an accurate reflection of
the views of the East Timorese people,
Welcoming the decision of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly on
19 October 1999 concerning East Timor,
Stressing the importance of reconciliation among the East Timorese people,
Commending the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) for the
admirable courage and determination shown in the implementation of its mandate,
Welcoming the deployment of a multinational force to East Timor pursuant to
resolution 1264 (1999), and recognizing the importance of continued
cooperation between the Government of Indonesia and the multinational force
in this regard,
Noting the report of the Secretary-General of 4 October 1999 (S/1999/1024),
Noting with satisfaction the successful outcome of the trilateral meeting
held on 28 September 1999, as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General,
Deeply concerned by the grave humanitarian situation resulting from
violence in East Timor and the large-scale displacement and relocation of
East Timorese civilians, including large numbers of women and children,
Reaffirming the need for all parties to ensure that the rights of refugees
and displaced persons are protected, and that they are able to return
voluntarily in safety and security to their homes,
Reaffirming respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Indonesia,
Noting the importance of ensuring the security of the boundaries of East
Timor, and noting in this regard the expressed intention of the Indonesian
authorities to cooperate with the multinational force deployed pursuant to
resolution 1264 (1999) and with the United Nations Transitional
Administration in East Timor,
Expressing its concern at reports indicating that systematic, widespread
and flagrant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law
have been committed in East Timor, stressing that persons committing such
violations bear individual responsibility, and calling on all parties to
cooperate with investigations into these reports,
Recalling the relevant principles contained in the Convention on the Safety
of United Nations and Associated Personnel adopted on 9 December 1994,
Determining that the continuing situation in East Timor constitutes a
threat to peace and security,
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
1. Decides to establish, in accordance with the report of the
Secretary-General, a United Nations Transitional Administration in East
Timor (UNTAET), which will be endowed with overall responsibility for the
administration of East Timor and will be empowered to exercise all
legislative and executive authority, including the administration of justice;
2. Decides also that the mandate of UNTAET shall consist of the following
elements:
(a) To provide security and maintain law and order throughout the territory
of East Timor;
(b) To establish an effective administration;
(c) To assist in the development of civil and social services;
(d) To ensure the coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance,
rehabilitation and development assistance;
(e) To support capacity-building for self-government;
(f) To assist in the establishment of conditions for sustainable development;
3. Decides further that UNTAET will have objectives and a structure along
the lines set out in part IV of the report of the Secretary-General, and in
particular that its main components will be:
(a) A governance and public administration component, including an
international police element with a strength of up to 1,640 officers;
(b) A humanitarian assistance and emergency rehabilitation component;
(c) A military component, with a strength of up to 8,950 troops and up to
200 military observers;
4. Authorizes UNTAET to take all necessary measures to fulfil its mandate;
5. Recognizes that, in developing and performing its functions under its
mandate, UNTAET will need to draw on the expertise and capacity of Member
States, United Nations agencies and other international organizations,
including the international financial institutions;
6. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to appoint a Special
Representative who, as the Transitional Administrator, will be responsible
for all aspects of the United Nations work in East Timor and will have the
power to enact new laws and regulations and to amend, suspend or repeal
existing ones;
7. Stresses the importance of cooperation between Indonesia, Portugal and
UNTAET in the implementation of this resolution;
8. Stresses the need for UNTAET to consult and cooperate closely with the
East Timorese people in order to carry out its mandate effectively with a
view to the development of local democratic institutions, including an
independent East Timorese human rights institution, and the transfer to
these institutions of its administrative and public service functions;
9. Requests UNTAET and the multinational force deployed pursuant to
resolution 1264 (1999) to cooperate closely with each other, with a view
also to the replacement as soon as possible of the multinational force by
the military component of UNTAET, as notified by the Secretary-General
having consulted the leadership of the multinational force, taking into
account conditions on the ground;
10. Reiterates the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian and
reconstruction assistance, and calls upon all parties to cooperate with
humanitarian and human rights organizations so as to ensure their safety,
the protection of civilians, in particular children, the safe return of
refugees and displaced persons and the effective delivery of humanitarian aid;
11. Welcomes the commitment of the Indonesian authorities to allow the
refugees and displaced persons in West Timor and elsewhere in Indonesia to
choose whether to return to East Timor, remain where they are or be
resettled in other parts of Indonesia, and stresses the importance of
allowing full, safe and unimpeded access by humanitarian organizations in
carrying out their work;
12. Stresses that it is the responsibility of the Indonesian authorities to
take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safe return of refugees
in West Timor and other parts of Indonesia to East Timor, the security of
refugees, and the civilian and humanitarian character of refugee camps and
settlements, in particular by curbing the violent and intimidatory
activities of the militias there;
13. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a Trust
Fund available for, inter alia, the rehabilitation of essential
infrastructure, including the building of basic institutions, the
functioning of public services and utilities, and the salaries of local
civil servants;
14. Encourages Member States and international agencies and organizations
to provide personnel, equipment and other resources to UNTAET as requested
by the Secretary-General, including for the building of basic institutions
and capacity, and stresses the need for the closest possible coordination
of these efforts;
15. Underlines the importance of including in UNTAET personnel with
appropriate training in international humanitarian, human rights and
refugee law, including child and gender-related provisions, negotiation and
communication skills, cultural awareness and civilian-military coordination;
16. Condemns all violence and acts in support of violence in East Timor,
calls for their immediate end, and demands that those responsible for such
violence be brought to justice;
17. Decides to establish UNTAET for an initial period until 31 January 2001;
18. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council closely and
regularly informed of progress towards the implementation of this
resolution, including, in particular, with regard to the deployment of
UNTAET and possible future reductions of its military component if the
situation in East Timor improves, and to submit a report within three
months of the date of adoption of this resolution and every six months
thereafter;
19. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
--
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