TEMPO SEMANAL-DILI, 31/10/2012
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| Xefe UNMIT ho Primeiru Ministru asina nota de entrega responsabildade tota (31/10) iha palacio do Governu nia oin iha ceremonia ne'ebe participa husi kontijente UNPOL, ISF, F-FDTL no PNTL ne'ebe asiste husi Presidenti da Republika Taur Matan Ruak, Presidenti Parlamentu ho mos orgaun judiciariu TL (Photo Special Tempo Semanal) |
In his his opening remark during the
hand over ceremony in Dili this morning Xanana start recalled, “building of a State involves a process that cannot
be free from error. This is even more the case when the task begins following a
conflict resulting from a struggle for liberation. In fact, there has been no
part of the world in which a State has been built in a short period of time.”
“We all knew that one of the most
demanding challenges would be to transform a guerrilla force into modern and
professional armed forces, along with creating from scratch a police force able
to secure by itself internal security and peace among our people.”
“In hindsight, we must acknowledge
that there were key gaps, which included the quality of basic training of the
police officers that were recruited for the PNTL. This contributed to PNTL
growing with serious weaknesses, which became evident when the institution
failed to maintain public order in 2006 at a time when our nation needed it
most. Instead, the PNTL almost ceased to operate.”
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| Tenda iha palacio oin ne'ebe hodi halo ceremonia tranferencia ohin (31/10) |
In 2006, recognising that we were
unable to restore public order by ourselves, and with the survival of our
democratic and independent State operating under the rule of law in jeopardy,
we were forced to call for international assistance. This decision was shared
by our bodies of sovereignty.”
“We were fortunate to be able to
rely on the great solidarity and the operational readiness of four friendly
countries, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal, which did not
hesitate to send military and security forces to Timor-Leste. Step by step,
these forces helped us to return to normality.”
“Meanwhile the United Nations
Security Council also responded to our request and sent a mission to become the
sole institution responsible for internal security in Timor-Leste. This force
was UNPOL.”
“Over the past six years, the
Timorese State was not in a position to exert its exclusive competence for
providing security for people and their property. We must recognise, however,
that this was necessary to allow us to mend the errors of the past, which
included addressing the quality of the training of the various units of the
PNTL, and especially those dedicated to handling more complex criminal matters.”
“At the same time, and working
together with UNPOL, we undertook thorough reform of the PNTL, correcting its
deficiencies and organising its operation.”
“It was with persistence and
determination that we managed to solve problems caused by the crisis, which
threatened the stability and wellbeing of the people, such as the IDPs and the
issue of the petitioners.”
“In 2008, following attacks against
the heads of bodies of sovereignty, Operation Halibur became an opportunity to
demonstrate the ability of soldiers and police officers to work in close
coordination and cooperation towards a common goal. This operation was a
significant success in terms of peace, stability and security in the country,
and gave the Defence and Security Forces a desire to work harder in order to
succeed in their missions.”
“We started the gradual process of
handing over to PNTL the responsibility for police operations in the various
districts of the country. This process was completed on 27 March 2011, with the
handing over of the General Command.”
“We witnessed with satisfaction how
the Defence and Security Forces proved, in an increasingly confident and
effective way, to be able to ensure internal security and the defence of the
people. Nevertheless, we continued to rely on the generous support of the ISF
and UNPOL.”
“Since the F-FDTL and PNTL proved to
be able to perform the tasks given to them by the Constitution with
professionalism and competence, it was clear that they could not continue to
receive foreign assistance indefinitely. We all agreed, therefore, that by the
end of this year the United Nations would permanently end their mission in
Timor-Leste and that ISF would withdraw their troops from our national
territory.”
“As such, today signals a landmark
for the recent but wonderful history of our homeland. It is a cause for joy and
pride for all Timorese, but not because the police officers and soldiers who
generously volunteered to assist us are now leaving Timor- Leste. Instead, it
is because their assistance enabled us to correct our errors and to improve our
technical and professional skills.”
“This is precisely the reason we are
here today at this ceremony that seeks first to acknowledge the important role
that UNPOL and the ISF played in making Timorese
society safer and more just. The
awarding of the Order of Timor-Leste to both these institutions represents our
genuine gratitude to all those who, for the past six years, have served UNPOL
and the ISF, and consequently, Timor-Leste and its people.”
Prime Minister Thank the support that his country receive from UN, Australia and other friendly countries.
“In my name, and on behalf of the
Government that I lead, I thank and congratulate the Commanders of UNPOL and
the ISF for their good work in Timor- Leste. I also want to thank the United
Nations, represented by the Acting Special Representative of the
Secretary-General, as well as the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, for
providing the assistance that comes to an end today.”
“We are aware that there will be new
challenges in the future. Having rebuilt our security forces, we must now
strive to train their members, so that the recent past is never repeated and
that our police force is always up to the task.”
“The future cooperation with police
forces from friendly countries, with models similar to that of PNTL, will now
be undertaken bilaterally. This will also be the model by which we will
undertake international military cooperation.”
“I
thank all the international police officers and soldiers and wish you all the
best in the future. I hope that your trip back home is a pleasant one.”
The UNPOL and ISF from Australia and New Zealand was asked by East timorese leaders to help the country in 2006.
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