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East Timor's Path to Independence

The United Nations established the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) to organize and conduct a popular consultation in East Timor in 1999 to determine whether the people favored special autonomy within Indonesia or independence. Over 78% voted for independence. In the aftermath, violence erupted so the UN authorized an international peacekeeping force led by Australia to restore order and stability. The UN then established the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) to administer East Timor and guide it to independent nationhood, establishing an Independent Electoral Commission with support from the Australian Electoral Commission to conduct democratic elections and continue building electoral capacity.

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11 views1 page

East Timor's Path to Independence

The United Nations established the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) to organize and conduct a popular consultation in East Timor in 1999 to determine whether the people favored special autonomy within Indonesia or independence. Over 78% voted for independence. In the aftermath, violence erupted so the UN authorized an international peacekeeping force led by Australia to restore order and stability. The UN then established the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) to administer East Timor and guide it to independent nationhood, establishing an Independent Electoral Commission with support from the Australian Electoral Commission to conduct democratic elections and continue building electoral capacity.

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BLM 5

How did EAST TiMoR TAKE THE FiRST STEPS To dEMoCRACY?

The United Nations in East Timor


During and after the vote a period of great unrest occurred,
including widespread murder, violence, arson and looting by
pro-integration militias, at times with the support of elements
of the Indonesian security forces. United Nations personnel were
evacuated during the violence that followed the vote.

A hard-won right: East Timorese waiting to vote in the


2001 elections

The United Nations (UN) set up UNAMET


(United Nations Mission in East Timor)
to organise and conduct the popular
consultation in 1999. The Australian
Electoral Commission (AEC) provided
significant support to this operation,
both in the planning and implementation.
Timorese residents in Australia also voted.
The result of the popular consultation was
overwhelming rejection of the proposed
status of autonomy in favour of beginning a
process of transition towards independence.
Although voting was not compulsory, there
was a very high voter turnout and 78.5%
voted in favour of independence.

In view of the urgent situation, the United Nations authorised an


international peacekeeping force, led by Australia. INTERFET
(International Force East Timor) comprised 11 000 troops, 5 000 of
them from Australia. The force, commanded by Major-General Peter
Cosgrove arrived in Dili on 20 September 1999 and oversaw the
withdrawal of Indonesian troops, disarming of pro-Indonesian militia
and the return of refugees from West Timor.
In October the United Nations authorised the UNTAET (United Nations
Transitional Authority in East Timor). This became the virtual
administration of East Timor and guided East Timor to independent
nationhood. The AEC, in collaboration with the UN, undertook a major
program of capacity building to enhance the ability of the East
Timorese to organise their own elections after independence.
The UN recognised at an early stage that an independent electoral
management body was required in East Timor in order to conduct
elections. At the same time UNTAET also announced the
establishment of an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which
would have exclusive electoral authority. The IEC aimed to ensure that
the 2001 and 2002 elections were conducted fairly and
democratically. The Australian Electoral Commission worked
as part of the IEC.
In 2002 a further mission was set up by the United Nations.
Called UNMISET (United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor),
it was established to provide assistance to core administrative
structures critical to the viability and political stability of East Timor,
to provide interim law enforcement and public security and to assist
in developing the East Timor Police Service, and to contribute to the
maintenance of the new countrys external and internal security.
Australia contributed civilian and military police to this mission.
As a result of continued civil unrest, in 2006, the United Nations
established UNMIT (United Nations Integrated Mission in TimorLeste). This mission is ongoing at the time of writing.

Australian soldiers trying to stop the violence that erupted


after the popular consultation vote

100

Democracy Rules

Australian Electoral Commission 2010

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