15 March 2010 – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste today announced the death of its deputy chief, paying tribute to his dedication to helping the people of the fledgling nation consolidate peace.
The Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative, Takahisa Kawakami, a Japanese national who had served in the role since September 2008, died of natural causes overnight at his home in the capital, Dili.
“Mr. Kawakami demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the people of Timor-Leste and to the wider efforts of the United Nations by working in partnership with his Timorese counterparts to support the development of the national police and continued peace, security and stability in Timor-Leste,” according a press release issued by the mission, known as UNMIT.
“Mr. Kawakami had a distinguished career with the United Nations, both in the field and at Headquarters,” UNMIT said.
He had extensive experience with Timor-Leste, having played a key role in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in setting up the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), set up to assist the region during the transition to independence in 1999.
As a diplomat, Mr. Kawakami was posted to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN in New York from 1987 to 1991 and again from 2003 to 2007. While his country was on the Security Council in 2005 and 2006, he acted as Coordinator on Timor-Leste.
He worked in Afghanistan as Chief of Staff for the UN Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA) from 2007 to 2008, in Cambodia with the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) from 1992 to 1993 and with the UN Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC) from 1991 to 1992.
Mr. Kawakami is survived by his wife, Chieko, and his daughter, Mao.
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