Two Generals for Timor-Leste: TMR and Lere promoted.

TEMPO SEMANAL TV

On Declaration of Independence Day 28 November 2010, the Government of Timor-Leste promoted Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, Chief of the Defence Force, to Major General.  Chief of Staff of the Defence Force, Colonel Lere Annan Timor, was also promoted, to the rank of Brigadier General.Timor-Leste's defence force is the successor to the Independence movements armed wing, FALINTIL, which fought the Indonesian occupation of Timor-Leste from 1975 until 1999.  Both Matan Ruak and Annan Timor are 24 year veterans of the armed resistance.  The Timorese defence force, the FALINTIL-FDTL, consists of approximately 1,291 officers and other ranks.  579 of these personnel were recruited earlier this year in order to restore FALINTIL-FDTL to pre 2006 crisis levels.  During the 2006 crisis FALINTIL-FDTL lost nearly have of its compliment due to desertions and subsequent dismissals.  The defence force's strategic development is heavily focussed on building a naval capacity as it is going to receive two Shanghai Class patrol boats from China in March 2010.  The Government plans to upgrade the Hera Naval Facility 10 km to the west of Dili, and build a supply base on the south coast of Timor-Leste - so as to provide necessary logistical support to a range of new naval operations its plans to conduct from 2010 onwards.