East Timor: Toward a New Nation.

• Author: Rutsch, Horst

On 25 October 1999, the Security Council set up a United Nations authority in East Timor with a broad mandate designed to help the territory's transition to independence. Adopted by a unanimous vote, Council resolution 1272 (1999) established the United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET). The Council, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorized UNTAET to take "all necessary measures to fulfil its mandate", which initially covers the period through 31 January 2001. UNTAET 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.

Until local elections in East Timor can take place, UNTAET will provide security, maintain law and order, establish a civil administration and help develop social services in the devastated territory. It will coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and support capacity-building for self-government and sustainable development. It has established the National Consultative Council (NCC) to ensure East Timorese participation in the governance and administration of the territory.

UNTAET's Public Administration and Governance Division will oversee the rebuilding of East Timor's judiciary, civilian police force and public services. It will also handle economic, financial and development affairs, run the electoral operations and administer each of the territory's 13 districts.

UN peacekeepers will take over from the Australian-led international force-INTERFET--which the Council on 15 September authorized to restore law and order in East Timor following the UN-sponsored popular consultation of 30 August.

After nearly 80 per cent of the territory's population voted for independence, pro-Indonesia militia unleashed a campaign of violence and destruction, which displaced more than 75 per cent of East Timor's population and destroyed 70 per cent of all housing, public buildings and essential services. The crisis deepened when law and order collapsed with the rapid and unexpected departure of Indonesian authorities. Several hundred thousand people still remain displaced inside East Timor or are refugees in West Timor.

On 1 November, the last Indonesian Army troops left East Timor, marking the end of a 24-year presence in the territory. On 20 October, Indonesia's national assembly formally accepted the results of the popular consultation and...