Timor

First East Timor militiaman sentenced for crimes during 1999 popular consultation

28 March 2002
An East Timor special panel for serious crimes has sentenced a former militia member to four years in prison for his role in a murder during the violent aftermath of the 1999 United Nations-run popular consultation.

East Timor approves key regulations on public transport, broadcasting

26 March 2002
East Timor’s Council of Ministers today passed new regulations setting up legal frameworks for future public transportation and broadcasting systems, which in the latter’s case would replace the radio and television services currently provided by the United Nations Transitional Administration (UNTAET).

East Timor: UN outlines policy for dealing with returning refugees suspected of crimes

25 March 2002
The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and the territory’s transitional government today released a policy paper on how to deal with returning refugees suspected of committing crimes during the 1999 popular consultation, assuring alleged offenders that they will have “full rights to a free and fair trial.”

East Timor Assembly signs into force first-ever constitution as UN applauds move

22 March 2002
After six months of drafting, consultation, and debate, East Timor’s Constituent Assembly today signed into force the territory’s first-ever constitution, a move that was hailed by the top United Nations official in the territory as a “founding act” of a new nation.

East Timor Assembly passes preamble to constitution on eve of document’s approval

21 March 2002
East Timor’s Constituent Assembly today passed the preamble to the territory’s constitution, paving the way for the final passage and signing of the 170-article document after a six-month process, the United Nations Transitional Administration (UNTAET) said today.

National survey shows education key development issue in East Timor, UN reports

20 March 2002
Nearly three quarters of East Timorese have deemed education the most important development issue of the soon-to-be independent territory, according to a national planning survey funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and released today in Dili.

East Timor: UNHCR reports upsurge in refugee returns from West Timor

18 March 2002
There has been an upsurge in the number of East Timorese returning from camps across the border in West Timor, Indonesia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced.
Sergio Vieira de Mello

As presidential election campaign kicks off in East Timor, UN predicts peaceful vote

15 March 2002
East Timor today kicked off the territory’s first-ever presidential election campaign, with the head of the United Nations Transitional Administration (UNTAET) predicting that the process will be as peaceful, and the turn out as large, as the balloting for last year’s Constituent Assembly.

UN mission chief hails Indonesia's trial of 18 accused of rights abuses in East Timor

14 March 2002
The head of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today welcomed the start in Jakarta of a human rights trial to prosecute 18 suspects accused of perpetrating a wave of violence during the territory's 1999 popular consultation.

Top UN official in East Timor welcomes end to presidential race deadlock

12 March 2002
The head of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today welcomed the end to the presidential campaign deadlock after candidate Francisco Xavier do Amaral and his supporters announced they would ask the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to remove all party symbols from the ballot for the upcoming election.