United Nations Security Council Resolution 1319
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1319, adopted unanimously on September 8, 2000, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor
(Timor-Leste), the Council demanded that Indonesia
take steps to disarm
and disband milita on the island following the killing of three United Nations staff.
The Security Council recalled its previous concern about the many refugee
s from East Timor present in camps in West Timor
. Militia
were also present in the camps and intimidating refugees and staff from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR). It was appalled by the murder of three United Nations staff on September 6, 2000 by a militia-led mob, and attacks against international personnel in the country and refugees were condemned. A number of refugees were also killed in Betun, West Timor, and the Council welcomed condemnation and intention of holding an investigation by Indonesia.
The resolution insisted that the Indonesian government take steps to immediately disarm and disband the militia, restore law and order, ensure the safety of refugee camps and of humanitarian workers and prevent cross-border incursions. It also stressed that those responsible for the armed attacks on the island of Timor
be brought to justice, particularly as grave violations of international humanitarian law
had taken place.
The Indonesian authorities were called upon to ensure the safe return of refugees who would voluntarily return to East Timor and those that did not would be resettled. The Council noted that Indonesia had deployed additional troops in West Timor but noted that UNHCR workers could not return until there were credible guarantees of safety. The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
had to urgently respond to the militia threat in accordance with Resolution 1272
(1999).
Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was requested to report within a week to the Council on the situation on the island.
Following the adoption of Resolution 1319, the Council approved the dispatch of a mission to the region to discuss its implementation.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1319, adopted unanimously on September 8, 2000, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
(Timor-Leste), the Council demanded that Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
take steps to disarm
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
and disband milita on the island following the killing of three United Nations staff.
The Security Council recalled its previous concern about the many refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s from East Timor present in camps in West Timor
West Timor
West Timor is the western and Indonesian portion of the island of Timor and part of the province of East Nusa Tenggara, .During the colonial period it was known as "Dutch Timor" and was a centre of Dutch loyalists during the Indonesian National Revolution...
. Militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
were also present in the camps and intimidating refugees and staff from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
(UNHCR). It was appalled by the murder of three United Nations staff on September 6, 2000 by a militia-led mob, and attacks against international personnel in the country and refugees were condemned. A number of refugees were also killed in Betun, West Timor, and the Council welcomed condemnation and intention of holding an investigation by Indonesia.
The resolution insisted that the Indonesian government take steps to immediately disarm and disband the militia, restore law and order, ensure the safety of refugee camps and of humanitarian workers and prevent cross-border incursions. It also stressed that those responsible for the armed attacks on the island of Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
be brought to justice, particularly as grave violations of international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
had taken place.
The Indonesian authorities were called upon to ensure the safe return of refugees who would voluntarily return to East Timor and those that did not would be resettled. The Council noted that Indonesia had deployed additional troops in West Timor but noted that UNHCR workers could not return until there were credible guarantees of safety. The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor provided an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission in the territory of East Timor, from its establishment on October 25, 1999 until its independence on May 20, 2002 following the outcome of the East Timor Special...
had to urgently respond to the militia threat in accordance with Resolution 1272
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1272
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1272, adopted unanimously on October 25, 1999, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor , particularly resolutions 384 , 389 , 1236 , 1246 , 1262 and 1264 , the Council established the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor ...
(1999).
Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
was requested to report within a week to the Council on the situation on the island.
Following the adoption of Resolution 1319, the Council approved the dispatch of a mission to the region to discuss its implementation.
See also
- 1999 East Timorese crisis1999 East Timorese crisisThe 1999 East Timorese crisis began with attacks by anti-independence militants on civilians, and expanded to general violence throughout the country, centred in the capital Dili. The violence erupted after a majority of eligible voters in the population of East Timor chose independence from...
- East Timor Special Autonomy ReferendumEast Timor Special Autonomy ReferendumThe East Timorese independence referendum was a referendum which was held throughout East Timor on 30 August 1999. The referendum's origins lay with the request made by the President of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 27 January 1999, for...
- Indonesian occupation of East TimorIndonesian occupation of East TimorIndonesia occupied East Timor from December 1975 to October 1999. After centuries of Portuguese colonial rule in East Timor, a 1974 coup in Portugal led to decolonization among its former colonies, creating instability in East Timor and leaving its future uncertain...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1301 to 1400 (2000 – 2002)
- United Nations Mission in East TimorUnited Nations Mission in East TimorThe United Nations Mission in East Timor was established by Security Council Resolution 1246 on 11 June 1999 for a period up to 31 August 1999...