The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Timor-Leste,

- having regard to the statement of 31 May 2001 on Timor-Leste made by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union,

- having regard to the UN Secretary General's Special Representative briefing for the Security Council (5432nd meeting),

- having regard to the appeal by UN Humanitarian Coordinator in East Timor for additional aid to cover operations for three months,

- having regard to the request by East Timor's government asking the UN to set up an investigation into the recent violent incidents, in which police, soldiers and civilians have been killed in various gunfights,

- having regard to Rule115 (5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the country has been torn by violence since the dismissal in April of nearly 600 soldiers, a third of the total armed forces,

B.  whereas following the unrest, riots and violence from gangs, dozens of people have been killed, many more are wounded, and tens of thousands of panicked residents have fled the capital and remain in the surrounding hills or are displaced under the protection of the church, the UN or embassies,

C.  whereas on 25 May soldiers opened fire on the unarmed police, killing an estimated 30 people and wounding many others,

D.  whereas the political instability in Timor-Leste continues, despite the resignations of the Interior Minister and the Defence Minister,

E.  whereas the deterioration of the dramatic security and political crisis led the East Timorese authorities to request foreign troops to help control wanton violence and restore law and order,

F.  encouraging the efforts undertaken by President Xanana Gusmão and Senior Minister Ramos Horta seeking the return of political and social stability, including talks with rebel representatives in the presence of UN observers,

G.  whereas the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has reported more than 100 000 displaced persons who were uprooted in recent weeks as a result of the political unrest,

H.   whereas the crisis started in March when Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri sacked 600 soldiers - nearly half the army - after they left their barracks, complaining of discrimination because they came from the country's west and whereas the sackings triggered fighting between rival soldiers and between police and soldiers, and the violence further disintegrated into lawlessness and gang clashes,

I.  whereas according to reports of human rights organisations, police abuse and torture has become one of East Timor's most worrying human rights problem in recent years,

J.  whereas the mandate of the UN mission in Timor-Leste (currently UNOTIL), once numbered some 11 000 troops and civilian staff, but scaled back to 130 staff members, police and military advisers, is due to expire on 20 June, having been extended by the UN Security Council last May just for one month, despite the UN Secretary-General proposal that it should have been prolonged for one year,

I.  whereas the level of unemployment in Timor-Leste hovers around 80%, 40% of the population lives under the poverty line and 60% are aged 18 and under,

1.  Urges all parties in Timor-Leste to refrain from violence, to be involved in an all-inclusive dialogue to settle the political differences and to participate in the democratic process within the legal and constitutional framework, thus contributing to resume social and political stability;

2.   Urges the Government and the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste to take all necessary steps to put an end to violence and to restore a secure and stable environment in full respect of the Constitution;

3.  Calls notably on the Government to take swift action against police officers who torture, arbitrarily detain, or use excessive force and to ensure through public measures and statements that there is a clear, unambiguous and consistent signal from the top that police abuses will not be tolerated;

4.   Notes that the role to be played by the international community, and in particular the United Nations and its Security Council, is of vital importance to the process of consolidation of the state of Timor-Leste and to consolidate democracy in this young nation;

5.  Calls on the donors to substantially increase support for effective human rights monitoring in East Timor and to provide assistance for the development of local human rights groups as well as for local services for victims of abuses;

6.  Stresses that the process of gradual reduction of the UN mission in Timor-Leste over the last four years has to be reversed and asks for an urgent deployment of UN-led police force to help restore stability;

7.  Calls on the EU Member States to take action in the UN to ensure that the UN’s mandate is extended and reinforced according to the Secretary-General proposals and that peacekeeping units and civilian police units remain in Timor-Leste until this country's own armed forces and police can take over these tasks themselves;

8.   Welcomes Timor-Leste's admission to the ACP group of States;

9.   Recognises Timor-Leste's need for political, technical and financial support in rebuilding the infrastructure and administrative structures which are essential to resume the implementation of its development plan;

10.   Calls on the European Union and international community to maintain and step up the support required to consolidate democracy and democratic culture in Timor-Leste, focusing in multiparty culture and institutional building - namely the Parliament, Government, Judiciary, security, defence and law enforcement forces-, and to assist in the urgent extension of media coverage to the whole country, as well as in strengthening the education and health networks, with particular attention addressed to the needs of children and women;

11.   Calls on the Council and Commission to urge East Timorese authorities to prohibit, disband and disarm any paramilitary groups or armed gangs and to raise European concerns over police violence with the government of Timor-Leste in all official meetings, and at the highest level;

12.   Recommends that a mission be sent to Timor-Leste next autumn to assess the political situation and examine the adequacy of EU assistance programs;

13.   Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the state institutions of Timor-Leste (namely the President, the Parliament and the Government), the Commission, the High Representative for the CFSP, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the UN Security Council.