LM Report 2003

Timor-Leste

Key developments since May 2002: Timor-Leste acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 May 2003. The treaty will enter into force on 1 November 2003.

Timor-Leste (East Timor) acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 May 2003, after formally becoming an independent state on 19 May 2002. The treaty will enter into force for Timor-Leste on 1 November 2003. The country’s initial Article 7 transparency report is due six months later, 28 April 2004. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative told Landmine Monitor that the Timor-Leste plans to increase its administrative capacity and, thus, will be able to establish national implementation measures as required by Article 9.^[1]

In May 2003, Timor-Leste attended intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva, its first participation in a Mine Ban Treaty-related meeting. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative told Landmine Monitor, “Although Timor-Leste is not a mine affected country it acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty to give its solidarity to countries suffering the effects of this indiscriminate weapon. It also wanted to join other countries in the common effort to stop use and production of antipersonnel landmines.”^[2]

Timor-Leste is part of the Bangkok Regional Action Group (BRAG), which was formed by States Parties from the Asia-Pacific region in September 2002 with the aim of promoting landmine ban initiatives in the region in the lead up to the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in Bangkok in September 2003. Timor-Leste attended a regional seminar on landmines held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 26-28 March 2003. Timor-Leste was absent from the vote on pro-mine ban UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74 in November 2002.

Timor-Leste declared that it has not produced or imported antipersonnel mines. Portugal, which remained in control of the country until 1975, did not leave any antipersonnel mine stockpile.^[3] There is no evidence that either side used antipersonnel mines during the conflict from 1975 to 1999.^[4] Timor-Leste has a limited problem with unexploded ordnance (UXO). An investigation into incidents that took place in Kelicai and Ossu in 2002 determined that they were due to unexploded grenades.^[5] There were no casualties due to landmines or UXO in 2002 and 2003.

[1] Interview with João Freitas de Câmara, Legal Affairs and Treaties Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Geneva, 12 May 2003.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] See Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 452; Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 592.
[5] Interview with João Freitas de Câmara, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, 12 May 2003.