United Nations Security Council Resolution 1338
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1338, adopted unanimously on January 31, 2001, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor
(Timor-Leste), particularly resolutions 1272
(1999) and 1319
(2000), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
(UNTAET) for a year until January 31, 2002.
The Security Council supported measures taken by UNTAET to strengthen the involvement of the East Timorese people in the administration of their territory. It encouraged efforts to achieve independence
for East Timor by the end of 2001 and noted that an international presence in the territory was necessary post-independence. There was also concern at the large number of refugee
s from East Timor located in camps in the Indonesia
n province of East Nusa Tenggara
(West Timor
) and militia
activity in the region.
Extending UNTAET's mandate
for an additional year bearing in mind adjustments, the Council urged the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
to continue to delegate powers from the transitional administration to the East Timorese people and for UNTAET to support this process. Financial institutions and United Nations funds and programmes that promised humanitarian aid
were asked to fulfill their commitments, while the international community
was also called upon to assist in the creation of the East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL).
The resolution underlined the need for UNTAET to respond to milita threats and those responsible for serious crimes in 1999 to be brought to justice. The Indonesian government was asked to continue to improve security for international personnel on Timor
in accordance with Resolution 1319. Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was requested to report to the Council by April 30, 2001 on the mandate of UNTAET, and to make recommendations regarding an international presence in East Timor within six months.
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"....
1338, adopted unanimously on January 31, 2001, 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), particularly resolutions 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) and 1319
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1319
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1319, adopted unanimously on September 8, 2000, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor , 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...
(2000), the Council extended the mandate of 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...
(UNTAET) for a year until January 31, 2002.
The Security Council supported measures taken by UNTAET to strengthen the involvement of the East Timorese people in the administration of their territory. It encouraged efforts to achieve independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
for East Timor by the end of 2001 and noted that an international presence in the territory was necessary post-independence. There was also concern at the large number of 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 located in camps in the 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...
n province of East Nusa Tenggara
East Nusa Tenggara
East Nusa Tenggara is a province of Indonesia, located in the eastern portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, including West Timor. The provincial capital is Kupang, located on West Timor...
(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...
) and 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...
activity in the region.
Extending UNTAET's mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
for an additional year bearing in mind adjustments, the Council urged the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
to continue to delegate powers from the transitional administration to the East Timorese people and for UNTAET to support this process. Financial institutions and United Nations funds and programmes that promised humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
were asked to fulfill their commitments, while the international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
was also called upon to assist in the creation of the East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL).
The resolution underlined the need for UNTAET to respond to milita threats and those responsible for serious crimes in 1999 to be brought to justice. The Indonesian government was asked to continue to improve security for international personnel on 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...
in accordance with Resolution 1319. 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 to the Council by April 30, 2001 on the mandate of UNTAET, and to make recommendations regarding an international presence in East Timor within six months.
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...