Status of Forces Agreements

The Status of Forces Agreements between RDTL and Australia, New
Zealand and Portugal are available on the web at
http://www.laohamutuk.org/reports/UN/06SOFAs.html .

On 24 May 2006, the Timor-Leste government requested international military assistance in restoring security and order in Dili, and troops were provided by Australia, and New Zealand, and police by Malaysia and Portugal.

Each of the four governments made an agreement with Timor-Leste about the roles, responsibilities, and legal status of their forces. Although these agreements have not been officially made public, La'o Hamutuk believes that they are important for people to know about, both in Timor-Leste and in the countries which have sent the soldiers. Transparency and rule of law are essential to democratic processes.

Consequently, we are publishing the agreements we have been able to obtain, and will publish similar additional information as it becomes available to us.

***********************************************************
Charles Scheiner
La'o Hamutuk (The East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring
and Analysis)
P.O. Box 340, Dili, Timor-Leste
Telephone:  +670-3325013 or +670-7234335  (mobile)
email: charlie@laohamutuk.org    website: http://www.laohamutuk.org

P.O. Box 1182, White Plains, NY 10602 USA
Tel. +1-914-831-1098  or  +1-914-473-3185  (mobile)

END