Dispatch of Civilian Police Officers to Timor-Leste PKO

January 26, 2007

On January 26 (Fri), following a request from the United Nations (U.N.), the Government of Japan decided at a cabinet meeting to dispatch two civilian police officers to the "United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste" (UNMIT) in Timor-Leste and three liaison and coordination officers to the country on the basis of its International Peace Cooperation Law.
In 2002, Timor-Leste became the first country to attain independence in this century. Since public order has been deteriorating across the country from April 2006, a UN mission mainly consisting of civilian police officers was established in August 2006, and support for stabilization and nation-building has been provided.
As a contribution to peace-building in Timor-Leste, this dispatch will contribute to consolidating close bilateral relations and promoting stability and development in that region. Japan also considers it valuable in undertaking peace-building diplomacy in fora such as the U.N.

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