Abstract
S/RES/1802 (2008)
Security Council Distr.: General
25 February 2008
08-25141 (E)
*0825141*
Resolution 1802 (2008)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 5844th meeting,
on 25 February 2008
The Security Council,
Reaffirming all its previous resolutions and statements on the situation in
Timor-Leste, in particular its resolutions 1599 (2005) of 28 April 2005, 1677 (2006)
of 12 May 2006, 1690 (2006) of 20 June 2006, 1703 (2006) of 18 August 2006,
1704 (2006) of 25 August 2006 and 1745 (2007) of 22… [read more] February 2007, and
S/PRST/2008/5 of 11 February 2008,
Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 17 January 2008 (S/2008/26)
and recalling the report of the Security Council mission to Timor-Leste which took
place from 24 to 30 November 2007 (S/2007/711),
Reaffirming its full commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
integrity and national unity of Timor-Leste and the promotion of long-term stability
in the country,
Welcoming the successful conclusion of the presidential and parliamentary
elections in 2007 and the formation of a democratically elected government and
institutions in Timor-Leste,
Urging the Government and people of Timor-Leste to continue their efforts to
resolve their political challenges, taking note with appreciation the determination of
the Government to restore stability and normalcy while reaffirming their commitment
to democracy and the rule of law and further taking note with appreciation the
commitment of the opposition to support peace and national stability,
Noting that the political, security, social and humanitarian situation in Timor-
Leste remains fragile,
Reiterating its call on the leadership and other stakeholders in Timor-Leste to
pursue peaceful dialogue and to avoid violent means to resolve differences,
Reaffirming the need for respect for the independence of the judiciary and its
responsibility, welcoming the conviction of the leaders of Timor-Leste on the need
for justice and their determination to act against impunity, and in this regard
acknowledging the serious resources constraints of the judicial system, encouraging
the leadership of Timor-Leste to continue efforts to establish accountability for
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serious criminal offences committed during the 2006 crisis as recommended by the
Independent Special Commission of Inquiry,
Recalling its previous statements on the need to implement fully the
“Arrangement on the Restoration and Maintenance of Public Security in Timor-
Leste and Assistance to the Reform, Restructuring and Rebuilding of PNTL and the
Ministry of Interior”, concluded between the Government of Timor-Leste and
UNMIT on 1 December 2006, and in this regard, stressing the need for constructive
engagement between UNMIT police and PNTL in view of developing the capacity
and capability of the national police,
Expressing its full support for the role of the international security forces in
assisting the Government of Timor-Leste and UNMIT, in the restoration and
maintenance of law and stability, in response to the requests of the Government of
Timor-Leste,
Recalling that while the manifestations of the current challenges in Timor-
Leste are political and institutional in nature, poverty and its associated deprivations
also contributed to these challenges, paying tribute to Timor-Leste’s bilateral and
multilateral partners for their invaluable assistance, particularly with regard to
institutional capacity-building and social and economic development, and recognizing
the progress being made in the development of many aspects of governance in
Timor-Leste,
Reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security and
1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel,
Recognizing the important role that the United Nations Integrated Mission in
Timor-Leste (UNMIT) continues to play in promoting peace, stability and
development in Timor-Leste, and expressing its appreciation for the efforts of
UNMIT and the United Nations Country Team, under the leadership of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG),
1. Decides to extend the mandate of UNMIT until 26 February 2009 at the
current authorized levels;
2. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the attacks on the President and
Prime Minister of Timor-Leste on 11 February 2008 and all attempts to destabilize
the country, noting that these heinous acts represent an attack on the legitimate
institutions of Timor-Leste, and welcomes the swift and constructive reaction by the
neighbouring countries;
3. Calls on the Government of Timor-Leste to bring to justice those
responsible for this heinous act, urge all parties to cooperate actively with the
authorities in this regard;
4. Calls upon the people of Timor-Leste to remain calm, exercise restraint
and maintain stability in the country;
5. Urges all parties in Timor-Leste, in particular political leaders, to
continue to work together and engage in political dialogue and consolidate peace,
democracy, rule of law, sustainable social and economic development and national
reconciliation in the country, and expresses its full support for the continued efforts
of the SRSG aimed at addressing critical political and security-related issues facing
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the country through inclusive and collaborative processes, including the High-Level
Coordination Committee and the Trilateral Coordination Forum;
6. Reaffirms the importance of ongoing efforts to reach accountability and
justice, and underlines the importance of the implementation of the recommendations
of the United Nations Special Commission of Inquiry report of 2006 by the
Government of Timor-Leste;
7. Emphasizes the need for sustained support of the international community
to Timor-Leste to develop and strengthen its institutions and further build capacities
in the justice sector;
8. Requests UNMIT to continue its efforts, adjusting them as necessary to
enhance the effectiveness of the judiciary system, and assist the Government of
Timor-Leste in carrying out the proceedings recommended by the Commission of
Inquiry;
9. Calls upon UNMIT to support the Government of Timor-Leste in its
efforts to coordinate donor cooperation in areas of institutional capacity-building;
10. Further calls upon the Government of Timor-Leste, assisted by UNMIT,
to continue working on a comprehensive review of future role and needs of the
security sector, including the Ministry of Interior, PNTL, Ministry of Defence, and
F-FDTL; given the sector’s importance to long-term stability, request UNMIT to
intensify its efforts in support of the review in close coordination with the
Government of Timor-Leste and relevant donors, and welcomes the establishment of
a three-tier coordination mechanism established in August 2007 to address the
broader challenges in the security sector;
11. Requests UNMIT, working with partners, to intensify its efforts to assist
with further training, mentoring, institutional development and strengthening of the
PNTL with a view to enhancing its effectiveness, including with respect to
addressing the special needs of women, while continuing to ensure, through the
presence of UNMIT police component, the restoration and maintenance of public
security in Timor-Leste through the provision of support to PNTL, which includes
interim law enforcement and public security until PNTL is reconstituted;
12. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s intention to send an expert mission to
UNMIT in the first quarter of 2008 to conduct a thorough assessment of the
requirements of the national police as well as possible adjustments needed to
UNMIT police skill sets; and requests him to inform the Council of the finding of
the expert mission;
13. Takes note of the establishment of Timor-Leste National Recovery
Strategy aimed at addressing the socio-economic challenges facing the country,
including the issue of IDPs and promotion of sustainable livelihoods and in this
regard, calls upon UNMIT to continue to cooperate and coordinate with the United
Nations agencies, funds and programmes as well as all relevant partners to support
the Government of Timor-Leste and relevant institutions and in designing poverty
reduction and economic growth policies;
14. Requests UNMIT fully to take into account gender considerations as set
out in Security Council resolution 1325 as a cross-cutting issue throughout its
mandate, and further requests the Secretary-General to include in his reporting to
the Security Council progress on gender mainstreaming throughout UNMIT and all
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other aspects relating to the situation of women and girls, especially in relation to
the need to protect them from gender-based violence, detailing special measures
proposed and taken to protect women and girls from such violence;
15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures
to ensure full compliance in UNMIT with the United Nations zero tolerance policy
on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council informed, and urges those
countries contributing troops and police to take appropriate preventive action and to
ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;
16. Further requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council regularly
informed of the developments on the ground and on the implementation of this
resolution, including in particular progress on his Special Representative’s efforts in
support for dialogue and reconciliation, and to submit to the Security Council no
later than 1 August 2008, a report which includes possible adjustments in UNMIT’s
mandate and strength to the Security Council, also requests the Secretary-General in
consultation with the Government of Timor-Leste, to develop a medium-term
strategy with appropriate benchmarks to measure and track progress, and to submit
further reports as and when he considers appropriate;
17. Decides to remain seized of the matter. [^]