28 May 2000

Bonn, Germany: Launching a difficult operation in record time, UN Volunteers helped the people of East Timor realize their dream. The East Timorese had been waiting a quarter century for an opportunity to determine the territory's political future. Being the largest group of the UN Mission in East Timor, 500 UN Volunteers -- electoral officers and medical personnel -- spearheaded the preparation of the 30 August referendum in which the vast majority opted for independence from Indonesia. Living conditions were harsh, and accommodation was Spartan. The UNVs made do with what little was available, and poured their energies into serving as the main point of contact between the people and the UN.

Working at the district level, they registered voters, conducted civic education and organized the polling process. Sixty per cent of the electoral officers drawn from 73 countries brought with them previous working experience from other UNV assignments. When the UN had to evacuate from East Timor following post-election violence, some 100 UNVs remained in Australia and assisted the nearly 2,000 refugees after their last-minute escape to Darwin. Facing extremely difficult conditions, this courageous group returned to the territory to help the people prepare to govern themselves.

• In 1999, UN Volunteers also supported electoral processes in the Central African Republic, Haiti, Indonesia, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa and Tajikistan. These experienced electoral officers have served on missions of the UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union. Since its first involvement in an electoral mission in 1993 in Cambodia, UNV has fielded more than 5,000 qualified professionals working in this field.

In 1999, 801 UN Volunteers were recruited to provide electoral assistance in nine countries and the territory of East Timor.

Vannary Ing
UN Volunteer Vannary Ing knows the scene. The UN made it possible for him to return home to Cambodia from a refugee camp and to participate in the historic 1993 elections. A 38-year-old medical assistant, Vannary served as an interpreter with the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNCTAC). There he helped train members of the Cambodian police force in basic human rights and criminal procedure. Captivated by these tasks, he then took up a post as a human rights assistant and later a provincial network coordinator in Cambodia. Vannary says his time in East Timor was similar to what he experienced in his own country. "People were enthusiastic to finally have the chance to express their will -- they had waited for almost a quarter of a century. I was happy to be able to give back some of what I received through the UN's involvement."