May 21, 2005
The last group of United Nations peacekeepers in East Timor will leave on Friday, after a six-year deployment following the bloody 1999 independence referendum.
There were initially about 11,000 UN troops and civilians when the force was first authorised, however in the past year this diminished to 450. After Friday, only around 130 administrators, police and military advisors will remain in East Timor. "They have been leaving over the last few days and all will be gone today," a UN spokeswoman in the East Timor capital Dili said, speaking to Reuters news agency. Security will remain an issue in the country, she said, however added that there is "more importance placed on the need to train and transfer knowledge to the police and border patrol units".
The peacekeeping mission will be replaced by the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste, or UNOTIL, which will operate until May 20 next year, a UN statement said. It will include 45 civilian advisers, 60 police advisers, 15 military advisers and 10 human rights officers Australia will maintain a small presence in East Timor, and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia remains committed to helping its neighbour secure its future.
East Timor is the world's youngest country, finally achieving nationhood status after spending two years under UN administration, however is still struggling to stand on its own. Inhabitants of the former Portuguese colony voted in August 1999 to break free from 24 year of Indonesian rule, despite a violent campaign waged by pro-Jakarta militias, widely believed to have been backed by Indonesian security forces. Around 1,500 people were killed, with others forced to deport and infrastructure destroyed.
The US has been leading calls for the UN to end its mission in East Timor, saying it is no longer needed. But East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Security Council members for one more year of UN help, and Mr Annan warned the council a hasty withdrawal could jeopardise the investment made by the international community to help the Timorese rebuild their country. East Timor has struggled to rebuild its economy, infrastructure and society. With the police force still honing its skills, the economy, largely based around coffee, oil and gas exports, is still not providing enough jobs to employ enough people.
More Information on East Timor
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