Immediately following the referendum, Pro-Indonesia militias commenced a scorched earth campaign triggering the 1999 East Timorese crisis.

A fifteen member National Consultative Council was established in December 1999 by UNTAET REG 1999/2,[1] and served as a forum for East Timorese political and community leaders to advise the Transitional Administrator and discuss policy issues.

The National Council became a legislature style body and had the right to debate any future regulations issued by UNTAET.

[4][5] Progress was made in the development of a judicial system with a Prosecutor General's Office and a Defender Service established.

Elections for an 88-member Constituent Assembly[6] were held on 30 August 2001, the second anniversary of the autonomy referendum, which resulted in a majority of seats for the Fretilin party.

[11] At the same time, the pro-independence guerrilla movement FALINTIL was officially disbanded, with many of its members joining the new defence force.

Initially law and order in East Timor was maintained by an international United Nations Civilian Police Force (CIVPOL).

[15] The United Nations transitional administration established an East Timor Postal Service in April 2000 with post offices opening in Dili, Baucau and at Comoro Airport.

Initially after the end of Indonesian occupation, the code +672 9 was used following an agreement with the Government of Australia and telecommunications provider Telstra.