In response to the outbreak of violence after the referendum in East Timor, the UN Security Council sent the International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) to the territory in September 1999. The multinational force headed by Australia aimed to restore peace and security and facilitate humanitarian assistance. On 25 October 1999, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was instituted as an integrated, multi-dimensional peacekeeping operation fully responsible for the administration of East Timor during its transition to independence.
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| Royal Thai Army Lt. Gen. Boonsrang Niumpradit, Commander of UNTAET (UN Transition Administration in East Timor) Peacekeeping Force (PKF), inspects his multinational military staff from five countries at the new HQ Sector West compound in East Timor. Australian Army Lt. Col. George Rooks, Chief of Staff - Sector West (in the rear), accompanies him. |
Under UN Security Council Resolution 1272, its mandate includes the provision of security and law and order in East Timor, the coordination of humanitarian assistance and the support of capacity-building for self-government. The 24-nation, 7700-strong Peacekeeping Force (PKF) was established to perform the security function. On 28 February 2000, the handover of the command of military operations from INTERFET to UNTAET-PKF was completed.
I assumed the leadership of the Peacekeeping Force on July 2000. Through the efforts of my predecessor, Lt. Gen. Jaime de Los Santos of the Philippines, I have inherited both a tightly knitted force and a relatively tranquil environment. However, the calmness was shattered in the third quarter of 2000 with several fatal incidents involving UN personnel.
