United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor

East Timor
Timór Lorosa'e Timor–Leste
United Nations protectorate
1999–2002
Flag Coat of arms
Location of East Timor at the end of the Indonesian archipelago.
Capital		Dili
Languages		Tetum Portuguese Indonesian English
Political structure		United Nations protectorate
Transitional Administrator		Sérgio Vieira de Mello
Chief Minister
•	2001–2002	Mari Alkatiri
History
•	UN Security Council Resolution 1272	25 October 1999
•	Independence	20 May 2002
Population
•	est.	947,000
Currency		United States dollar
Preceded by Succeeded by Timor Timur East Timor United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor

The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) provided an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission in the territory of East Timor, from its establishment on 25 October 1999, until its independence on 20 May 2002, following the outcome of the East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum. Security Council Resolution 1272 established the transitional administration in 1999, and its responsibilities included providing a peacekeeping force to maintain security and order; facilitating and co-ordinating relief assistance to East Timorese; facilitating emergency rehabilitation of physical infrastructure; administering East Timor and creating structures for sustainable governance and the rule of law; and assisting in the drafting of a new constitution and conducting elections. It was led by Brazil's Sergio Vieira de Mello (Special Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor) and the Philippines's Lieutenant General Jaime de los Santos (Supreme Commander of the United Nations' Peacekeeping Force (PKF)).

A coalition of nations sent troops to support the peace keeping mission. The forces were led by Australia, which provided the largest contingent and the out of theatre base for operations, supported by New Zealand, who sent the second largest contingent, and took responsibility for the more volatile southern half of the main border, France, whose special forces joined the ANZACs on the first day, as well as contingents from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Kenya, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. While the United States supported the transition authority, it did so mainly by underwriting contracts to replace destroyed infrastructure and thus avoided a direct military involvement, allowing the ANZAC led force to take the lead. The United States did, however, deploy a contingent of American police officers to serve with the International Police.