TIMOR-LESTE

Independence and United Nations
Membership for Timor-Leste

UNHCR Photo

Refugees return to Dili from West Timor. Returnees received a repatriation kit from UNHCR. The kit included plastic sheeting, a blanket, a jerrycan and soap.

A jubilant Timorese nation elected its first President on 14 April, gained its independence on 20 May and raised the flag of Timor-Leste alongside those of 190 other Member States at United Nations Headquarters on 27 September.

For a people traumatized just 36 months earlier by the devastation of public services and infrastructure, these events crowned a host of endeavours, supported by peacekeeping, reconstruction and development efforts under the UN umbrella. The success of these efforts was exemplified by the return in March 2002 of a record number of refugees (3,680) from camps in West Timor, bringing the total number of returnees since the violence of 1999 to 202,000.

Peacekeeping presence reduced

UNHCR Photo

This boy's home was destroyed during the militia rampage that followed the August 30 vote on self-determination in 1999

The inauguration of President Xanana Gusmão on 20 May marked the successful conclusion of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) which laid the foundations for political, social and economic recovery. UNTAET was replaced by a new, scaled-down peacekeeping operation, the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).

While UNMISET's mandate does not entail full-scale administrative functions, it does maintain responsibilities for police law enforcement and substantial military support to help maintain security. UNMISET also has civilian advisors in areas that are vital for the continued stability and viability of the new Government. The development of an effective civil service was a key aspect of UNTAET's mandate, and capacity-building remains a major challenge. Although some 11,000 civil servants have been recruited against 15,000 approved posts, most of these positions are in the lower ranks and fewer than 50 per cent of management positions have been filled.

Reconstruction surges

UNHCR Photo

A refugee child returns to Dili

With national confidence restored by stability and democracy, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of public infrastructure destroyed or vandalized in 1999 continues apace in the capital and surrounding districts. Seven major public buildings were under reconstruction in 2002. Twenty-three Timorese and 11 foreign companies were responsible for the work and the direct employment of 1,000 local people. Also on the public works roster are health clinics, schools and technical colleges, roadworks and safe water supply systems.

Since June 2000, some 32 major public buildings have been rebuilt under the supervision of Timorese and international architects and engineers. Over the same period, international funding was provided for the reconstruction of another 20 buildings in the capital, Dili, and some 240 district buildings including, police stations, registration and field offices, power and transmitter stations, workshops and warehouses.

Major gains

It is difficult to overestimate the gains that have been won by Timor-Leste and its people since the darkest days of 1999, with the support of UN and non-governmental organizations, the international community and other partners. Among those gains are the establishment of:

• basic public services including health, education, electricity and safe drinking water supplies;
• a Civil Service;
• a Constitution and functioning judicial and legal system;
• a Commission on Reception,Truth and Reconciliation to address human rights violations between 25 April 1974 and 25 October 1999;
• a Gender Affairs Unit to protect the rights of Timorese women and support their involvement in decision-making;
• a Defence Force with a first battalion of 600 soldiers already trained;
• a Police Service and Police College with more than 1,697 officer graduates already deployed in all 13 districts;
• a functioning port and international airport, and a major road rehabilitation programme after more than two decades of neglect;
• viable agricultural and fishing enterprises.

New economic prospects

Although the newly independent nation remains desperately poor with about 41 per cent of its 800,000 people living under the absolute poverty line of US 55 cents per day, the nation's long term economic prospects brightened following an initial agreement with Australia for the development of petroleum and natural gas resources in the Timor Sea. This multi-billion dollar venture may put the new nation on an economic footing that few could have imagined three years ago.