UN HANDS OVER FIRST DISTRICT TO TIMOR-LESTE NATIONAL POLICE UNIT

UN HANDS OVER FIRST DISTRICT TO TIMOR-LESTE NATIONAL POLICE UNIT
New York, May 13 2009 11:00AM
The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) will take over law enforcement duties in a district of the fledgling nation this week for the first time since violent clashes rocked the country in 2006, the Government and the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNMIT) <"http://unmit.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=214&ctl=Details&mid=627&ItemID=3756">announced today.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste Atul Khare, who also heads <"http://unmit.unmissions.org/">UNMIT, have decided that the resumption of responsibilities by the PNTL will start in the District of Lautém tomorrow, 14 May.

UNMIT and the Government reached an agreement on the resumption process which clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the PNTL and UN Police. UN Police will remain in the district to provide advice and monitoring, particularly in the area of human rights protection.

In UNMIT's most recent mandate extension, the Security Council supported the phased transfer of policing responsibilities now performed by UNMIT to the PNTL beginning in 2009, stressing however that the police must first meet all required criteria.

The mission was set up to help stabilize the country and provide intensified police re-training in late April 2006, after fighting – attributed to differences between eastern and western regions – erupted following the firing of 600 striking soldiers, or one-third of the armed forces.

Ensuing violence claimed dozens of lives and drove 155,000 people, 15 per cent of the total population, from their homes.
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TIMOR LESTE: UN-TRAINED NATIONAL POLICE TO TAKE UP THEIR BEATS

The first areas of Timor-Leste to be policed by national squadrons since the violent clashes that shook the fledgling nation in 2006 have been chosen, the Government and the United Nations mission in the country (UNMIT) announced today.

The resumption of responsibilities by the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) represents a significant stride for the country in its quest for stability, according to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative and head of UNMIT Atul Khare.

"Timor-Leste has taken major steps in the past 12 months towards restoring stability. PNTL beginning to resume full responsibility for policing is a further step in the efforts to ensure that this stability is sustainable over the long term," he said in a joint announcement with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.

The resumption of PNTL policing in the district of Lautém, followed by Manatuto, now awaits completion of a procedural agreement between the Government and UNMIT and other final considerations.

Assessments for the transition have also been completed in other districts, which were found to "require improvements," UNMIT said, before they can be declared ready for resumption, after which the remaining districts will be assessed according to agreed criteria.

Prime Minister Gusmão congratulated the PNTL, which marks its ninth anniversary today, and asked all district authorities to create conducive conditions for the transition, including adequate facilities and logistical provisions.

UNMIT was sent in to help stabilize the country and provide intensified police re-training in late April 2006, after fighting – attributed to differences between eastern and western regions – erupted following the firing of 600 striking soldiers, or one-third of the armed forces.

Ensuing violence claimed dozens of lives and drove 155,000 people, 15 per cent of the total population, from their homes.

In UNMIT's most recent mandate extension, the Security Council supported the phased transfer of policing responsibilities now performed by UNMIT to the PNTL beginning in 2009, stressing however that the police must first meet all required criteria.

UN Police will remain in the districts where the PNTL has resumed responsibilities to provide advice and monitoring, particularly in the area of human rights protection.
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SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS TIMOR-LESTE PEACEKEEPING MISSION

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS TIMOR-LESTE PEACEKEEPING MISSION
New York, Feb 26 2009 1:00PM

The Security Council today extended for one more year the mandate of the peacekeeping mission it sent to help stabilize the fledgling nation of Timor-Leste in the wake of violent clashes in 2006.

In the unanimously-adopted resolution extending the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), the 15-member body also requested the mission to provide support for elections currently planned for 2009, responding to an appeal by the Government.

Among other priorities, it underscored the importance of continued security reform, including the delineation of the roles of the national defence forces and the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), to whom the UN mission is asked to provide intensified training.

It supports the phased transfer of policing responsibilities now performed by UNMIT to the PNTL, beginning in 2009, stressing however, that the police must first meet all required criteria.

Reform of the justice sector and coordination of international donors efforts on institution-building are other areas emphasized by the Council.

In his latest report on Timor-Leste, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is encouraged by the strides made by the leaders and people of Timor-Leste since 2006, but warned that the root causes of that crisis, including poverty and unemployment, still linger.

In late April 2006, fighting – attributed to differences between eastern and western regions – erupted when 600 striking soldiers, or one-third of the armed forces, were fired.

Ensuing violence claimed dozens of lives and drove 155,000 people, 15 per cent of the total population, from their homes.

Through today's resolution, the authorized deployment level of UNMIT was left unchanged, but the Secretary-General was requested to include, in his next report, possible adjustments in the mission's mandate and strength as the PNTL begin to take over policing.
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