United Nations Security Council Resolution 1246
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1246, adopted unanimously on June 11, 1999, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor
(Timor Leste), particularly Resolution 1236
(1999), the Council established the United Nations Mission in East Timor
(UNAMET) to organise and conduct the East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum
on the future status of East Timor, scheduled for August 1999.
The Security Council recalled the agreements between Indonesia
and Portugal
on a referendum
in East Timor. It noted with concern at the "tense and volatile" situation described by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
in his report, and the need for reconciliation between competing factions in the territory.
The Council then authorised the establishment of UNAMET until August 31, 1999 to organise and conduct a referendum
on whether the East Timorese people accepted a proposal for autonomy
within Indonesia
or rejected the option which would have led to the independence of the territory. UNAMET would consist of 280 police to advise the Indonesian National Police
and 50 military liaison officers to maintain contact with the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It would also consist of a political component responsible for monitoring political freedoms, an electoral component responsible for voting and registration and an information component responsible for explaining the terms of the referendum to the East Timorese people. Additionally, the governments of Indonesia and Portugal
were to send observers to the region.
The Council urged Indonesia to conclude a Status of Forces Agreement
with the United Nations; called upon all parties to co-operate UNAMET; and stressed the responsibility of Indonesia to provide security throughout the process. It also condemned all violence and called for steps towards demilitarisation
. The Secretary-General was requested to report every 14 days on the implementation of the current resolution.
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"....
1246, adopted unanimously on June 11, 1999, 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 Resolution 1236
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1236
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1236, adopted unanimously on May 7, 1999, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor including 384 and 389 , the Council welcomed an agreement between Indonesia and Portugal on the future of East Timor and a proposed United Nations presence to...
(1999), the Council established the United Nations Mission in East Timor
United Nations Mission in East Timor
The 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...
(UNAMET) to organise and conduct the East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum
East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum
The 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...
on the future status of East Timor, scheduled for August 1999.
The Security Council recalled the agreements between 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...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
on a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
in East Timor. It noted with concern at the "tense and volatile" situation described by 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...
in his report, and the need for reconciliation between competing factions in the territory.
The Council then authorised the establishment of UNAMET until August 31, 1999 to organise and conduct a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on whether the East Timorese people accepted a proposal for autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
within 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...
or rejected the option which would have led to the independence of the territory. UNAMET would consist of 280 police to advise the Indonesian National Police
Indonesian National Police
The Indonesian National Police is the official police force for Indonesia. It had formerly been a part of the Tentara Nasional Indonesia. The police were formally separated from the military in April 1999, a process which was formally completed in July 2000. With 150,000 personnel, the police form...
and 50 military liaison officers to maintain contact with the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It would also consist of a political component responsible for monitoring political freedoms, an electoral component responsible for voting and registration and an information component responsible for explaining the terms of the referendum to the East Timorese people. Additionally, the governments of Indonesia and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
were to send observers to the region.
The Council urged Indonesia to conclude a Status of Forces Agreement
Status of Forces Agreement
A status of forces agreement is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement...
with the United Nations; called upon all parties to co-operate UNAMET; and stressed the responsibility of Indonesia to provide security throughout the process. It also condemned all violence and called for steps towards demilitarisation
Demilitarisation
Demilitarisation or demilitarization is the reduction of a nation's army, weapons, or military vehicles to an agreed minimum. Demilitarisation is usually the result of a peace treaty ending a war or a major conflict....
. The Secretary-General was requested to report every 14 days on the implementation of the current resolution.
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...
- 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...
- International Force for East Timor
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)
- United Nations Transitional Administration in East TimorUnited Nations Transitional Administration in East TimorThe 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...