Timor-Leste
Historical Chronology

The Council held an open debate (S/PV.5958) during which it was briefed by Atul Khare, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste on the Secretary-General’s report on the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) (S/2008/501) and by Zacarias da Costa, Timor-Leste’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Council adopted a presidential statement reaffirming support for UNMIT, and acknowledging that the political, security, social and humanitarian situation in the country remains fragile. The statement also reaffirmed the importance of the review and reform of the security sector and ongoing efforts to reach accountability and justice (S/PRST/2008/29).

The Secretary-General’s report on the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) was released (S/2008/501).  In it the Secretary-General recommended that no adjustments be made to the UNMIT mandate and strength given the fragility of the situation.

The Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) formally completed its final report.  The CTF found that the Indonesian police, army and civilian government officials funded, armed and coordinated anti-independence militias, which carried out activities resulting in grave human rights violations, including crimes against humanity. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Timorese President Ramos-Horta issued a statement accepting the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Commission and committing to implementing the recommendations, which include reforms of judicial and security institutions, human rights training for security forces and training in conflict resolution and survivor healing programmes. The UN Secretary-General encouraged the Timorese and Indonesian governments to ensure full accountability, to end impunity and to provide reparations to victims. 

An agreement was signed between the government and the UN Development Programme on technical assistance and advice for a review of Timor-Leste’s security sector. The review was scheduled tol be finalised by early to mid-2009.

The Secretary-General forwarded to the Council a Secretariat assessment (S/2008/329) of Timorese police requirements and the UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). The report noted that the Timorese police and judicial mechanisms continue to face significant challenges, including issues of capacity, integrity, resources and past political interference, with serious consequences over the administration of justice, control over public disorder and respect for human rights.

The Social Democratic Association of Timor (Associação Social-Democrata Timorense, or ASDT), a party in the governing coalition, signed an accord with opposition Frente Revolucionária de Timor-Leste Independente (Fretilin) to form a ruling coalition in a move to force early elections.  Despite the agreement, all five of ASDT’s members of parliament seemingly remained supportive of the governing coalition.

23 April 2008

The Council held consultations on Timor-Leste. Members heard a briefing on the preliminary findings and recommendations of an expert mission on policing that visited Timor-Leste in late March. The mission’s report is expected to be completed in May.  

An experts mission, led by UN Policy Advisor Andrew Hughes, conducted an assessment of the requirements of the national police and possible adjustments to UNMIT police skills sets.  The mission’s report noted that rebuilding the national police is a long-term undertaking requiring national ownership and continued international assistance for the foreseeable future.

25 February 2008

The Council renewed the mandate of the UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) in resolution 1802 for twelve months and requested the Secretary-General to develop a medium-term strategy for UNMIT with appropriate benchmarks.

21 February 2008

The Council held an open debate on Timor-Leste, which included a briefing by Under Secretary-General Jean-Marie Guéhenno. Amongst the issues raised by members were the need for progress with security sector reform, institution-building, political reconciliation and accountability.

11 February 2008

The Council adopted a statement condemning attacks against Timorese President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão carried out hours before. The Council also called on the Timorese government to bring those responsible to justice and urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means (S/PRST/2008/5).

17 January 2008

The Secretary-General’s report noted ongoing difficulties in UNMIT’s training and mentoring of Timorese police. Some government officials have raised concerns, appealing for a speedier handover of policing responsibilities, as well as the number of UNMIT police with appropriate training skill sets. Other concerns include a relatively low number of UNMIT police deployed in the districts and their high turnover. The report notes, however, that the current training standards should not be lowered, and that a phased handover—which would determine UNMIT’s future size—could start in April.

The Council discussed the report (S/2007/711) on the late-November mission to Timor-Leste in an open debate. Ambassador Sofia Borges of Timor-Leste requested that the Council extend the mandate of the UN Mission in Timor-Leste until 2012 in order to help the country strengthen democratic governance (S/PV.5801).  

Head of mission, Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa briefed the Council, noting the ongoing challenges of institution building and of development needs and uncertainty on the ground regarding the future of displaced persons and "petitioners."

24-30 November 2007

The Council mission went to Timor-Leste. It comprised of South Africa (as the lead member), China, Indonesia, Russia, Slovakia and the US. The mission held meetings with Timorese and UNMIT officials.

Prime MinisterXanana Gusmao held talks with a group comprising some of the military "petitioners,"  whose sacking from the army was one of the causes of the 2006 violence.  At the meeting, the group requested reinstatement of those sacked in 2006. 

The government of Timor-Leste asked that operations by Austalian-led international forces to arrest Alfredo-Reinado, one of the "petitioners" who had been dismissed from the army in 2006 and has opposed dialogue with the government, cease. 

The Security Council considered the Secretary-General's most recent UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) report which commended the political progress that had been achieved during recent elections but noted ongoing challenges related to the security sector, justice and accountability and IDPs (S/2007/513).   A presidential statement was adopted echoing the Secretary-General's support of the political process in the country while highlighting "the need for all parties to resolve their disputes through exclusively peaceful channels and within the framework of democratic institutions" (S/PRST/2007/33).

After many tense days of discussion over who could command a majority in the parliament, President José Ramos-Horta announced that he had appointed Xanana Gusmão as prime minister.

late July 2007

Australian Prime Minister John Howard visited Timor-Leste and was asked by the country's president to keep forces there through 2008. The new parliament was sworn in amidst renewed politically-motivated violence.

26 July 2007

The spokesperson for the Secretary-General announced that because of the long standing position of the UN against amnesties for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or gross violations of human rights, UN officials would not testify at Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) proceedings or take any other steps that would support the work of the CTF. 

30 June 2007

Parliamentary elections were held. FRETILIN (Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste Independente) won with a small margin of 29 percent of the vote against 23 percent for CNRT (Congresso Nacional da Reconstrução de Timor).  

11 May 2007

José Ramos-Horta defeated Francisco Lu'olo Guterres to win the presidency.

9 April 2007

In the first round of presidential elections, Parliament leader Francisco Lu'olo Guterres and Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta, who obtained respectively 28 and 22 percent of the votes, earned the right to face each other in the May runoff.

March 2007

Judicial proceedings into the April-May 2006 violence led to the conviction of former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato. 

22 February 2007

The Council renewed the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) for 12 months and increased its police size by 140 ahead of the presidential elections.

 The Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) began hearings on the 1999 violence.

26 January 2007

The UN, Timor-Leste and Australia signed a security agreement to establish a Trilateral Coordination Body to allow better coordination on security issues.  

30 October 2006

The Secretary-General appointed Atul Khare as his Special Representative in Timor-Leste to replace Sukehiro Hasegawa.

17 October 20006

Independent Special Commission of Inquiry issued its report on the April-May violence, presenting facts that led to the violence and recommending the prosecution of several individuals for their role in the crisis. 

14 September 2006

UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) officially took over policing activities in Timor-Leste with the "blue-hatting" of Australian, Portuguese and Malaysian police contingents.

25 August 2006

The Council created the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) through resolution 1704.

14 July 2006

José Luis Guterres, Timor-Leste's ambassador to the UN, was appointed foreign minister.

10 July 2006

José Ramos-Horta was sworn in as the new prime minister.

28 June 2006

Protesters set fire to some twenty houses in Dili; Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed a special inquiry commission to investigate the May and June violence.

26 June 2006

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri  resigned.

20 June 2006

The Council extended the UN Office in Timor-Leste's (UNOTIL) mandate until 20 August and requested that the Secretary-General submit by 7 August a report with recommendations regarding strengthened UN presence in Timor-Leste.

13 June 2006

The Council held an open debate during which the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Timor-Leste, Ian Martin, provided a briefing.

6 June 2006

A rally of some 2000 called for the prime minister's resignation.

2 June 2006

José Ramos-Horta was named minister of defence in addition to his post as foreign minister; Mari Alkatiri continued to reject calls for his resignation.

1 June 2006

Defence Minister Roque Rodriguez resigned.

25 May 2006

The Secretary-General sent Ian Martin, his representative in Timor-Leste in 1999, on a fact-finding mission to the country. The Council issued a presidential statement supporting the deployment of the multinational forces.

24 May 2006

The Timorese government requested security assistance from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal. The Council expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in a statement to the press.

23-25 May 2006

Violence continued, with several people killed and several dozen injured. Timorese politicians called on the prime minister to resign.

28-29 April 2006

Violent riots took place in Dili leading to the displacement of thousands of civilians.

Late March 2006

Numerous violent incidents occurred in Dili, leading to 48 arrests. Eight of those arrested were from among the 591 dismissed soldiers.

Mid-March 2006

Nearly 40 percent of the armed forces (591 soldiers) were dismissed by the commander of the armed forces.

8 February 2006

Some 400 members of the armed forces demonstrated in front of the president's office in Dili demanding a response to their January petition alleging discrimination in promotion and ill-treatment against members of the military from outside the eastern parts of the country.

20 January 2006

President Xanana Gusmão presented the Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) report to the Secretary-General. 

28 October 2005

Timor-Leste's Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) handed over its final report to President Xanana Gusmão.

28 September 2005

The Commission of Experts (CoE) report was forwarded to the Council, who then requested recommendations from the Secretary-General. 

5 August 2005

The Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) officially met for the first time.

May 2005

The Commission of Experts (CoE) conducted its fact-finding mission, the Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) concluded its activities and the UN Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) was established.

December 2004

Timor-Leste and Indonesia decided to establish the joint Indonesian-Timorese Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF).

November 2004

The Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) ceased all investigations.

May 2002

The UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) withdrew and Timor achieved independence.  The UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) was established.

January 2002

The Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) was established.

June 2000

The UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) established the serious crimes process.

October 1999

The Indonesian parliament recognised the referendum.  The UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established.

September 1999

Anti-independence violence increased.  The Council authorised the deployment of an international force. 

August 1999

The referendum took place, showing 78 percent support for independence.

May 1999

Indonesia and Portugal agreed on modalities for a referendum under UN auspices. Anti-independence violence erupted. 

January 1999

Indonesia decided to carry out a referendum concerning independence for Timor-Leste. 

1975-1979

The Indonesian occupation was marked by a bloody repression against civilians and armed resistance.

December 1975

Indonesia occupied Timor-Leste. 

November 1975

The Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) declared Timor-Leste independent.