CASE STUDY: EAST TIMOR

"This is the first time that we have attempted such an ambitious international nation-building effort - the first time for all of us. …The international community has, in East Timor, the unique opportunity to get the development of a country right from the beginning." - Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN Transitional Administrator

INTRODUCTION
When the UN Security Council established the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) in October 1999, it committed the international community to the largest and most ambitious nation-building effort in the organization's 50-year history. After militias destroyed over 80 percent of the property in East Timor and 500,000 inhabitants fled the country, the UN had to rebuild political, economic, and social institutions that East Timor lacked after centuries of colonial rule. On May 20, 2002, East Timor gained its independence; however, the United Nations maintains a presence in East Timor to ensure security and stability during its first year of independence.

This integrated multidimensional peace operation was fully responsible for the administration of East Timor. It provided security and maintained law and order throughout the territory, provided civil and social services, supported capacity building for self-governance, and assisted in establishing conditions for sustainable development. The UN recognized, however, that the East Timorese had to feel ownership of these reforms and, therefore, incorporated local representatives in governance and left large questions, like writing the constitution, to the East Timorese. The UN's involvement in East Timor marked a new generation in United Nations peacekeeping and to date is largely considered a success.

OBJECTIVES
1. Analyze the sources of conflict in East Timor.

2. Analyze the role of the United Nations in East Timor.

3. Analyze U.S. policy towards and involvement in East Timor.

4. Analyze the importance of rule of law, governance, security, economic development, and humanitarian relief in the reconstruction of East Timor.

5. Analyze the lessons learned, both positive and negative, to apply to future operations.

ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
1. What were the major characteristics of the peace operation? What aspects were effective and ineffective? What were the mandates for INTERFET and UNTAET? Was UNTAET successful?

2. How did the United Nations approach the difficult issues of providing humanitarian assistance and security; building political, judicial, economic, and social institutions; supporting rule of law and human rights; and administering East Timor?

3. Was there a comprehensive plan for the construction of East Timor? What roles have NGOs and regional organizations played? How effective has coordination been among partners?

4. What were the sources of the conflict? How did this impact the operation and its outcome?

5. What was the U.S. policy role in the UN authorization of the Australian-led coalition? What was the U.S. role after the UN took control of overseeing East Timor's transition? What U.S. interests are involved in East Timor?

REQUIRED READING
Steele, Jonathan. "Nation Building in East Timor." World Policy Journal. Summer 2002. pp. 76-87.http://www.worldpolicy.org/journal/sum02-2.html#6

Traub, James. "Inventing East Timor." Foreign Affairs. July/August 2000. pp. 74-89. http://globalpolicy.igc.org/security/issues/etimor/traub.htm

Chandrasekaran, Rajiv. "Saved From Ruin: The Reincarnation of East Timor." Washington Post. May 19, 2002. (ANTHOLOGY)

Dickens, David. "Can East Timor be a Blueprint for Burden Sharing?" The Washington Quarterly. Summer 2002. pp. 29-40. http://www.twq.com/02summer/dickens.pdf