The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established following the 1999 referendum in which the people of East Timor overwhelmingly voted for independence from Indonesia. This transitional administration was set up to prepare East Timor for full independence, which was eventually achieved in 2002.
After the fall of the Suharto regime in Indonesia, the situation in East Timor, which had been occupied by Indonesia since 1975, became volatile. The international community intervened following reports of widespread violence post-referendum. On October 25, 1999, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1272, which established UNTAET.
UNTAET had the following primary objectives:
The administration was led by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), with Sérgio Vieira de Mello being the first to hold this position. UNTAET was given extensive executive, legislative, and judicial powers to govern East Timor during the transition period.
UNTAET's activities included:
On May 20, 2002, East Timor officially became an independent nation, and UNTAET handed over power to the newly elected government. UNTAET was succeeded by the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) to provide continued support to the young nation.
The UNTAET mission is often cited as a unique experiment in international governance, with mixed reviews on its success. It provided a framework for East Timor's transition to independence but also faced criticism regarding the pace of reconstruction and local participation in governance.