Huge Number of Application From Timorese Youth To Become F-FDTL Member

Tempo Semanal-Dili, 19.02.2011

Kol. Falur (right)
and a n old soldier
 Armindo da silva
a 24 years Falintil veterans
 for the liberation who
has resigned on 20/01/2011
(Foto Doc F-FDTL)

East Timor Secretary State for Defense DR. Julio Tomas Pinto has observed and discuss the recruitment process with the  members of the F-FDTL recruitment commission. Since the end on January this year the East Timor defense force working together with the Defense department to recruit more 600 new member East Timor Defense force.

After the 2006 crises East Timor F-FDTL members reduced from 1300 to some seven hundred members after more then six hundred soldier went left their barack to protest against their own institutions. Since then no recruitment ever take place until the Defense force set up their 2020 plan.

The 2020 F-FDTL plan was criticized by some international because tear a part some of the plan set by Kings Colleges report. The Kings College recommend East Timor should only have a thousand five hundred soldiers while in the 2020 plan East Timor plan for 3000 army forces.

Last year East Timor Defense force set to recruited 600 new members. Thousands young Timorese register them selves and from all those applicants East Timorese defense can't 600 troops because many can't meet the criteria mainly health issues.

For this year the commission has received more then six thousands documents from six thousand applicants to contest for the six hundreds post in F-FDTL.
East Timorese Defense force now a days have at least 1300 troops and with this recruitment will increased it's number to almost 2000 troops.

According to Tempo Semanal source within the Defense force said this recruitment is very important to prepare the new Defense officer to take some post which left by the old veterans who has resigned or those going to retire because of health conditions and other matters as well as to build up the numbers to meet the 2020 plan target slowly. (TS).

South Korean Donate Two Patrol Boat To East Timor

Tempo Semanal-Dili, 05.02.2011

East Timor Secretary of state For Defense, DR. Julio Tomas pinto has announced the South Korea has donated two patrol boat to help East Timor Navy Force to patrol south Cost sea.

“The south Korea government has decided and wrote us to informed that they agreed to donate two patrol boat with better condirtions to east Timorese defence force,” said DR. Pinto in an exclusive interview with Tempo Semanal last week.

He added that that these two boat will cost his Government with Zero Dollars. There are a many illegal fishing boat in the area and last september the Timorese authority apprehended Thai illegal Fishing boat. East timor south cost is fragile and may using as a save route for people smugglers  activity to reach Australia. But the Canberra reluctant to help East Timor Navy with any equipment just some Military advisers now working with East Timor's F-FDTL.

"If the Australian is willing to donate any boat? lets accept it. But so no sign yet," said DR. Pinto.

According to tempo Semanal source withing TL Government said a few years ago the Australian Government has tried its best to confince the new independent country to participated in the Australian Pasific Patrol boat programme but Dili has rejected the offer cause its run by the Australian navy and the communication system has to comes through Australia.

“I do agreed with the Timorese Government not to take the Australian boat with a lot of requirement. I felt the Australian Government does not have goodwill towards East Timor,” said Antonino da Costa, a university Student who is Studying politics China.

Last years East Timorese Government purchase two patroal boat from china which the make raised some Questions why the Timorese Government not take the offer from Australia.

East Timorese Navy now a days have four patrol boat two bought from China and the other two donated by portugal. And DR. Pinto also informed the public that his side will buy some other navy materials to help patrol the Timorese sea. (TS)

RELATORIO FUNDASAUN MAHEIN : LALAIS MAS LADUN LOS

Resposta ba Relatorio “Simples” Fndasaun Mahein Konaba Orsamento Geral Defesa e Siguransa.


Julio Tomas Pinto

Hau kontente tebes hare e le relatorio “simples” oan ida nebe hato’o husi Fundasaun Mahein konaba orsamento Defesa e Siguransa nian nebe publika ona iha jornal nacional. Fundasaun Mahein hanesan fundasaun oan ida nebe hari’i iha 2008 ho objective atu aju hodi aumenta legitimidade no kapasidade sector seguransa Timor nian liu husi partisipasaun sidadaun nian iha desemvolvimento iha legislasaun, politica e prosedemento nebe relevante (to assiste in increasing the legitimacy and capacity of the Timorese security sector through citizen participation in the development of relevant legislation, policies and procedures). Hau mos la questiona konaba direito ema ida-idak nian ou instituasaun ida-ida nian atu hato’o analiza saida deit iha asunto defesa e siguransa tamba ida ne’e direito nebe konsagra tiha ona iha konstituasaun republika Timor Leste nian. Iha resposta ida ne’e hau sei hateten buat ida nebe tutela ba hau nia responsabilidade nudar Secretario de Estado da Defesa e nudar ema ida nebe iha relasaun emosional ho FUNDASAUN MAHEIN para kredibilidade Fundasaun Mahein nebe hetan fundos husi Australia bele iha responsabilidade e tenki mantein ho kuidadu e sustainable.

Fundasaun mahein hanesan instituasaun ida nebe iha inkontro National Priority konaba Defesa e Siguransa ami sempre komvida para akompanha desemvolvimento asunto Defesa e Siguransa tamba ami kategoria sira ba Sociadade Civil nebe bele fo alternative ba asunto Defesa e Siguransa. Hanesan ita hotu hatene katak ita foin iha etapa ida nation Building e state building purtantu invilvimento NGO sira hanesan Fundasaun Mahein bele fo alternative ba seitor Defesa e Siguransa. Iha resposta ida ne’e mos hau sei hare liu dadus la valido nebe fundasaun ne’e uza e mos stake holder sira nebe sira interview hodi sai sira nia referencia ba relatorio ida ne’e. E hau mos uja lia fuan simples tamba iha relatorio ida ne’e laos kategoria ba analiza mas relatorio la iha balansu e pior liu la halo investigasaun klean para suporta argument nebe Fundasaun ne’e hakerek.

Iha relatorio Fundasaun Mahein (pagina tres) hateten hanesan ne’e “dadaun ne’e ro-ahi rua ne’e bele halo deit patrolha husi Dili to’o deit Batugade ka besik batugade, sa tan ro-ahi rua ne’e ida at ona”. Hau hakarak esklarese ba public e mos ba hakerek na’in sira iha Fundasaun Mahein (hau la bele uza analiza tamba relatorio ne’e em termos akademiko laos analiza mas dala ruma besik liu ba kategoria propaganda) katak iha dia 25 koando relatorio ida ne’e sai, hau komfirma kedas ba Chefi Estado Maior General F-FDTL Jeneral Taur Matan Ruak konaba paragaf nebe Fundasaun Mahein hakerek iha nia relatorio e informasaun nebe ami hetan mak ne’e katak ro-ahi rua nebe guverno sosa husi China to’o agora ninia kondisaun diak tebes. Componente Naval sira halo nafatin patrolha rutin nebe planeado tiha ona. Ro-ahi ida husi ro-ahi rua nebe eferese husi Guverno Portgues mak ida avaria hela. Mas dala ida tan ro-ahi nebe ita sosa husi China iha kondisaun diak mesmo lolos iha tinan ida ne’e tenki halo ona manutensaun ki’ik ba ro-ahi rua ne’e. Hau nia persepsaun ba paragraph iha leten ne’e refere bar o-ahi Jaco e Betano tamba ro-ahi rua ne’e mak ita sosa. Hanesan infromasaun mos katak Ro-ahi rua ne’e iha tinan kotuk tenki ba kosta sul hodi kaer roperkador illegal iha areia entre Lore e Ilomar nian.

Iha pagina tres relatorio ida ne’e mos hateten katak “konaba ro-ahi nebe dadaun dodok ona, FM fo sala ba guverno nia tendensia nebe buka atu sosa mak ro-ahi tuan no la halo estudo ruma nebe klean konaba kondisaun jeografika iha Timor Leste”. Hare husi paragraph ida ne’e klaru tebes katak Fundasaun Mahein la halo investigasaun klean mas buka husi internet nebe koalia konaba nasaun seluk karik tamba informasaun ida ne’e sira foti husi internet beritahankam.blogspot.com/…/agus-wijaya-anggaran.pertahanan.html nebe lolos laos koalia konaba Timor Leste mas koalia liu konaba Alusista Indonesia nian. Lia fuan nebe Fundasaun Mahein sira hakerek iha sira nia relatorio ne’e foti husi komentario Andi Widjajanto dosente Relasaun Internacional Universidade Indonesia iha Media Indoensia dia 29 July 2010 nebe koalia konaba trend Indonesia nia nebe gosta sosa sasan uzado ba military Indoensia. Depois de hau buka iha internet hau hakark tau relatorio FM nian ho komentario Andi Wijayanto nia para it abele kompara FM: konaba ro-ahi nebe dadaun dodok ona, FM fo sala ba guverno nia tendensia nebe buka atu sosa mak ro-ahi tuan no la halo estudo ruma nebe klean konaba kondisaun jeografika iha Timor Leste. Andi Wijayanto : Mengenai banyaknya unit senjata Indonesia yang bobrok, Andi menyalahkan tren masa lalu dimana Indonesia cenderung membeli alusista bekas”. Hare husi dadus sira ne’e hau hakarak koalia asuntyo rua nebe importante permeiro ; ema sira nebe hakerek relatorio Fundasaun Mahein halo duni relatorio maibe lahatene saida mak sira hakerek. Guverno sidauk sosa ro-ahi tuan depois de independensia ou depois hari Componente Naval. Foti ema nia komentario konaba sasan tuan mas lahatene katak sira (andi wijayanto) koalia ida ne’e iha kontestu Indonesia nian. Husu Fundasaun Mahein para hare didiak relatorio sira ne’e antes hato’o ba publiku para la hamosu internpretasaun katak Fundasaun Mahein halo propaganda ho data falsu ou la halo investigasaun nebe diak.

Iha relatorio (pagina sinco) Fundasaun Mahein nian sira sita Duputado Arsenio Bano hodi hakerek katak “nia (Arsenio Bano) mos hateten katak iha 2010 PN aprova orsamento ho montante miliaun 7,1 dolar amerikano atu hari baze ne’e maibe to’o iha Dezembro 2010 baze temporario ne’e sidauk hotu. SED Julio Tomas Pinto haktuir katak guverno sei aumenta orsamento miliaun 1,5 dolar Amerikano atu finalize baze temporario nebe tuir Julio sei hotu iha 2011. Konaba ida ne’e hau iha obrigatorio para hato’o lolos factus nebe los ba publiko konaba komentario Fundasaun Mahein nian ne’e. Permeiro seidauk iha plano para atu halo Baze Temporario ba Componente Naval. Iha Programa Forca 2020 hateten katak Componente Naval sei iha Baze rua iha Timor Leste BaZe Compoenente Naval permeiro mak iha Hera e Sigundo Baze Naval mak iha Meti Boot iha Same nian. Depois iha mos ponto apoiu naval nebe iha Oecusi, Com, Atauro e Suai. Purtantu parese intensaun Fundasaun Mahein nian mak Porto Temporario maibe sira lahatene termos BAZE e PORTO Temporario. Maibe la buat ida hau hakarak foti deit sira intensaun ne’e par abele klarfika asunto ida ne’e. Guverno la iha Plano para aumenta tan osamento ba componha LIfees Engeneering maibe guverno re-osamento fali osan miliaun 1,5 dolar Amerikano para sira konpleta prjeto ida ne’e to’o hotu. Iha sistem financa Timor Leste la fo posibilidade ba Carry Over ne’e signifika katak kaondo to’o dia 31 de Desembro mak osan la ezekuta hotu osamento fila fali ba kaiza estado e guverno tenki re-apropria ou re-osamento fali sosan (sisa anggaran) nebe iha para kompleta. Ne;e atu dehan deit katak total osamento nafatin miliaun 7,1 maibe re-osamento ou re-apropria fali osan nebe sidauk ezekuta hotu iha tinan 2011.

Iha relatorio ne’e (pagina 5) mos koalia konaba Kazerna ba Compoenente Naval. Fundasaun Mahein dehan katak “nune mos konstrusaun hela-fatin ba F-FDTL tinan ida liu ba hetan ona alokasaun orsamentomaibe to’o ohin loron la bele realize tan guverno la iha kapasidade atu hari atru hari’i hela fatin hirak ne’e”. Hau hakarak esplika tan ba publiko e Fundasaun Mahein katak kazerna nebe SED aloka osan iha orsamento ratifikativo (fulan julho) prosesu lao nafatin. Iha kompanha ENSUL mak manan tender ida ne’e e konstrusaun ba kazerna ida ne’e mos kompanha ezekuta deit 25 porsentu husi total osamento purtantu agora konstrusaun ba kazwerna komponente naval mos guverno re-orsamentu fali iha 2011. Tamba orsamento kazerna ne’e boot entau Permeiro Ministro e Ministro Defesa e Siguransa husu para hatam iha plano plurianual.

Ikus liu hau hateten asunto rua (2); permeiro; agradese ba isforso Fundasaun Mahein nian nebe ho kbit tomak hakerek relatorio simples ida ne’e, mesmo ho data real ou facto nebe minim tebes. Sigundo; Fundasaun Mahein persiza hadi’a tan ekipa peskiza para depois Fundasaun ida nebe iha ona kredibilidade bele sai fali fatin ba propaganda tamba deit la iha equipa investigasaun nebe diak. Rejultado peskiza persiza halo uluk diskusaun para depois rejultado ida ne’e bele fo kontribusaun konstrutivo ba desemvolvimento seitor defesa e Siguransa iha Timor Leste. Hakarak mos atu dehan katak semak la investiga diak liu lalika koalia (quem nao investiga, nao ten direito para falar). Tamba se la investiga koalia sei la tuir realidade tamba ne’e investiga uluk mak koalia. Obrigado.

Dezenvolvimentu Setor Defeza Neineik Maibe Hakat Tan Pasu Ida Ba Oin

Dili-Tempo Semanal, 22.12.2010

Governu Timor Leste hahu ohin loron 22/12/2010 estabelese ona Institutu Defeza Nasionál ida iha ministeiru Defesa ninia mahon. Sekreatriu do Estadu de Defeza DR. Julio Tomas pinto hafoin kua tiha fita sinal inaugurah ona institute refere iha ninia diskursu badak dehan, “instutu Defeza Nasional loloos ne’e, kursu hotu-hotu kona ba Defeza Seguransa iha rai barak mós halo Instituisaun ida ne’e, mais halo fatin keta-ketak, tanba ne’e mak ami husu ba UNDP, UNMIT sira ajuda ita, liu-liu servisu hamutuk ho Uniaun European, fasilita falidade ida ne’ebe ke temporariu ba ita.”

“Sira prepara komputadór, library, buat hotu-hotu. Ita sei loke ba publiku, ita nia estudante sira ne’ebe mak hakarak estuda i hatene liu kona ba parte seguransa defeza nian. Ne’e sentru ida, ne’ebe ke diak bele faselita sira. Tanba ita hotu hatene Universidade bara-barak iha Timor, ita estudante barak mak halo peskiza kona ba defeza segurasa.”

Objetivu ba harii Institutu ne’e importante liu-liu maka, “ita tenke fasilita sira, para sira mai iha ne’e. I Instituisaun ida ne’e nia atividade sei ba liu peskiza, kona ba defeza seguransa nian ho Negosiu Estranjeiru nian, i mós prepara rekursu iha tempu badak ou naruk ba Ofisiais F-FDTL sira.”

Tuir Lei organiku Defeza ninian katak institute ida ne’e sei ukun husi Diretor ida ne’ebe nomeia husi Ministru Defeza Seguransa ou Sekretariu Estadu ne’ebe sei konsulta ho F-FDTL.

Mas tuir DR. Julio Tomas Pinto katak agora daudauk ninia parte seidauk identifika ema ida atu kaer kna’ar ne’e. “Hau hanoin iha tinan oin, tama ba orsamentu foun, hau hanoin ita bele nomeia ona ema ruma sai diretór ba fatin ida ne’e, i ita nia ema sira ne’ebe back round estudus estratejiku ou defeza, sira bele mai servisu hamutuk iha ne’e, hanesan fó kontribuisaun ba dezenvolvimentu defeza seguransa nian iha ne’e,” espera Sekretariu estadu ne’e.

Daudaun ne’e orsamentu hotu-hotu ba funsionamentu Instutu ne’e mai husi UNDP, Uniaun Europea. “Ita so prepra fatin ida ne’e deit. Depois sira mai faselita ita. Orsamentu mai husi sira hotu,” dehan Julio Pinto.

Husi Parte Embaixadór Uniaun Europea, Juan Carlos Rey informa katak, “konstrusaun institutu defeza Nasionál refere durante fulan tolu ho valor orsamentu US 150. 000.”

Ceremonia ne’e hetan partisipasaun husi SRSG Amirah Haq ho ninia vice Finn, ulun boot husi seksaun UNMIT ninian, Reforma Setor Seguranca, embaixadores, komandante komponente Naval Pedro Klamar Fuik no konvidadus sira seluk. (ts)

Security Support and UNMIT: SSR Failure mixed with Misconduct

Esclusive Tempo Semanal-Dili, 03.12.2010

This newspaper report that UNMIT has according to the UN Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) failed in its security sector reform mission at great cost to the taxpayers in Australian, Norway and the EU.  It can also report that an audit also discovered that at least one UN staff signed an agreement with the Timorese Government not to cooperate with his employer in the provision of details of his advisory role in defence matters.

In 2006 UNMIT was mandated to provide assistance to the Government in the conduct of a comprehensive security sector review on the roles and responsibilities of the PNTL and F-FDTL as a result of the crisis of 2006.  UNMIT establish the Security Sector Support Unit (SSSU) in order to manage this review.  To date that review has not happened.


The International Crisis Group (Brussels), the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) New York, the Security Sector Monitor (Canada), and the influential Centre for International Cooperation (CIC) in New York have all been very critical of the SSSU and UNMIT.  One former UN staffs even criticised the review.


In 2009 the CIC stated that the "UN has lost the credibility necessary for the current Security Sector Review process to fulfill this role. Without committed support and cooperation from the government of Timor-Leste, the likelihood of undertaking a successful review – let alone one that will be politically implementable – is minimal."

Front page audit report

signature page audit report former SRSG UNMIT Atul Khare

This newspaper report that on 23/12/2009 the UN chief investigator and auditor submitted the "Audit Report, Management of the Security Sector Support Programme in UNMIT - UNMIT's Support to security sector review and reform in Timor-Leste has not been fully effective UNMIT AP2009/682/02 IAD".  Readers may access the entire report here.


The purpose of the audit was the assess the effectiveness of the SSSU in the conduct of its tasks in UNMIT.  The SSSU has approximately 14 internationals staffs costing the taxpayer approximately $3.1 million/year.  The SSSU also has $4 million in funding from the Norwegian, Australian and EU taxpayers.  These project funds were given to UNDP.  The Project document outlined here. The OIOS audit shows that the funds are largely wasted.


The audit had several findings.  Firstly it found that the SSSU and UNMIT have failed to established and coordinate good relationships with Government and other international actors. 


"The Mission is expected to coordinate its work with other partners in strengthening security institutions, but there was no consolidated or clear methodology and plan of action developed in collaboration with the Government and other national and internationals actors for the security sector reform.  Attempts by the Mission to agree its priorities with the Government did not achieve the desire results."


Secondly, the audit found that the SSSU failed to properly align with Government and that its staff failed to co-locate with Government counterparts, and that the Government failed to ask for SSSU staff input into security reform processes.


"The Government's lack of cooperation with and interest in UNMIT's support, and the Mission's failure to conduct the required reassessment of its staffing needs for the security support program, resulted in the under utilization of advisers recruited by the Mission.  Only two of the eight advisers on-board were co-located with their counterparts and many advisers complained that the Government did not request for their input into reforms initiatives".


Thirdly, the audit found that the Mission "Mandate Implementation Plan" (MIP) for the SSSU was never implemented as the Government never cooperated with it.  The MIP can be found here.


"According to the Mission the Government did not respond to its request for the Government's views on the draft MIP and the proposed role of the SSSU".


The audit also found that the UNPOL Rebuild Restructure and Reform plan for the PNTL was never endorsed by the Government or the PNTL.  As a result it is clear that the UNPOL have been following on plan since 2006, while the Government have been following their own plan.

UNPOL RRR plan never adopted

As in the below it shows that UNMIT SSSU failed to perform its role as many tasks remain unperformed - despite millions of dollars being expended.  The Review project, the capacity building and the security survey costing millions have yet to occur even 11 months after the UN OIOS found out that they had not happened as of Dec 2009. To read the multi-million dollar project document of the project "that never happen", see here, signed by SRSG Atul Khare and PM Gusmao.

Key tasks costing millions of dollars never done.

Staff Misconduct in the SSSU:


This newspaper can report that a UN adviser in the Office of the Secretary of State for Defence SoSD, "signed a confidentiality document stating that he would not share any information he gained in the office of the SoSD with any party, including the UN".  The audit states that this is a clear breach of UN staff rules Regulation 1.1(b) and that as a staff accountable to the UN and should therefore be "personally accountable for violating UN Staff regulation 1.1(b)."  This newspaper can report that the staff member has been working for the UN in Timor-leste in the defence sector since at least 2005.  The audit states that UNMIT has only cautioned the staff member in question, but seems to still have employment with the UN in the same role. 

UN Staff signs secrecy agreement with the Government of Timor-Leste

When called by this newspaper the Chief of the Security Sector Support Unit, Mr. Murray Mccullough, declined to comment other than stating that "all the audits recommendations have been complied with".  A reading of the audit report shows that this is not accurate.


On 2 December Mr. Gorgy Kakuk responded to this newspaper's request for comment on (and in some cases copies of) United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services, by stating that, 


"OIOS reports contain confidential and sensitive information about individuals and United Nations operations and activities. Disclosure of such information may be detrimental to the Organization’s proper functioning, the welfare and safety of its staff or third parties, or may violate the Organization’s legal obligations. OIOS reports are therefore considered strictly confidential internal United Nations documents.  For these reasons, the release of reports for purposes other than to facilitate the disciplinary process is restricted to specific instances provided for under the OIOS mandate, as per global UN policy. Thank you, again, for your letter." 

Tempo Semanal report that the United States Government and the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York are of a different opinion that Mr. Gorgy Kakuk and disagree with UN Global Policy.  In the ongoing effort to reform the United Nations the United States Permanent Mission to the UN in New York recently posted on its website over 200 OIOS reports from 2008-2010.

This newspaper will continue examing OIOS reports on UNMIT in the next weeks.

SIGURANSA CIVIL UZA KILAT : PROPOSTA EMA IGNORANTE IDA

ESKLUXIVU INTERVIEW
TEMPO SEMANAL, DILI, 23.11.2010

Seminar (18/11) ne'ebe halo iha edifisiu ETDA, Fatuhada maka apoiu husi UNDP no Sekretariu Estadu Segurnasa relasiona ho apoiu regulamentus ba kompania siguransa civil no Siguransa privadu iha TL. Iha Power point ne'ebe sani husi Sr. Andre Thorsten ho titulu, "Avaliasaun Preliminár kona-ba Kompañia Seguransa Privada iha Timor-Leste no Inkorporasaun husi “pratika di’ak” internasionál no rekomendasaun ba regulamentu, lejizlasaun no fiskalizasaun iha pontus sanolu resin ida ho topik regulamentu no ekipamentu kona ba kilat, Sr. Thorsten propoin katak, "ema ida-ne’ebé hetan lisensa bele uza kilat bainhira hala’o serbisu nu’udar investigadór privadu ka guarda seguransa só bainhira nia hetan autorizasaun atu kaer kilat tuir lei ne’ebé vigora."
Aprezentasaun ne'e hamosu kedan tensaun iha diskusaun meja kabuar ho protesta maka'as husi diretor NGO Fundasaun Mahein. Nasoeins Unidas iha Dili liu husi relasaun publika tenta ona atu konvence publiku hodi dehan Sr. Thorsen nunka hasai lia fuan ne'e. Deklarasaun asesor UN, Sr. Thorsten ninia ne'e hamosu deskonfiansa ba misaun UNMIT no hetan kritika maka'as.
Iha parte seluk jornal ne'e, ohin halo intervista eskluxivu ida ho Sekretariu do Estado de Defeza, DR. Julio Tomas Pinto dehan katak staff UNMIT ne'e lakon hanoin no la kuinese nasaun Timor Leste. Tuir mai
ita ba akompania hamutuk intervista ESKLUXIVU entre Tempo Semanal (TS) ho DR. Julio Tomas Pinto (JTP) ohin iha Dili
TS: Tuir Itaboot nia hanoin Kilat iha Timor Leste ne’e oinsa ?

JTP: Iha nasaun ne'ebe postu konflito kilat sai asunto ida ne'ebe importante para estado tenki tau matan ba. Kilat klaru que tenki iha de'it PNTL ho F-FDTL nia liman. Hau pesoal e mos nu'udar sekretario estado la konkorda ho hanoin balun ne'ebe hakarak monta kilat iha fatin-fatin hanesan guarda prisionario, siguransa edifisio e seluk-seluk tan. Aleinde ida ne’e iha lei mos la premite para bele fo kilat ba instituasaun seluk fora de PNTL e F-FDTL. Purtantu kilat tenki hare ho kuidadu.

TS: Fasilidade ba kilat iha F-FDTL oinsa ?

JTP: Permeiro se ita hakarak nasaun ida ne’e seguru e hadutu dignidade instituasaun nia entaun ita tenki prepara fasiliade ba instituasaun sira ne'ebe kaer kilat ne’e. Iha nasaun sira ne'ebe organiza nia aan em termos de hari’i forca armadas, estado tenki iha obrigasaun para fasilita kilat ba sira para sira iha kbi'it para mantein siguransa ba nasaun. Maibe ita mos la bele haluha katak kuando ita distribui kilat ba instituasaun defesa ita tenki prepara mos payol ba sira. Payol ne’e para atu kontrola kilat e manage kilat ne’e. Purtantu “weapon management is important for military”. Iha nasaun sira ne'ebe democratiku, kuando nasaun ida hakarak sosa kilat asunto permeiro ne'ebe sira husu mak oinsa ita zere kilat e ita iha payol ka la'e? Mesmo nune'e ha'u hakarak hato’o katak fasil para atu koalia kontrola kilat mas difisil para aplika kuando ita la iha seriedade para kontrola. Iha F-FDTL kuaze kilat sira ne'ebe ita iha mai husi fatin 2 ; permeiro kilat mai husi gerilla nian. Kilat sira ne’e mak kilat sira ne'ebe ita nia FALINTIL lori husi tempo gerilla nian mai. Segundo kilat ne'ebe F-FDTL hetan husi doasaun. Kilat sira ne’e to’o agora iha lista hotu e kontrolado. Uluk kuando iha krisi 2006 reveldes sira lori balun mas ita identifika hotu ona e la iha ida que lakon. Purtantu kilat F-FDTL ate a data kontrolado hela.

TS: Asesor UNMIT dehan Siguransa Sipil bele usa kilat. Itaboot nia hanoin oinsa?

JTP: Iha nasaun barak hanesan USA, Indonesia e seluk tan, ema sira ne'ebe hetan autorizasaun husi policia ou orgaun kompetente bele uza kilat ho objective atu defende nia an kuando hetan ataque ruma. Ema sira ne’e mak hanesan emprejario rikasu sira la'os emprezario broker ne'ebe hanesan perwakilan kompanha emprezario estrangeiro sira. Iha kontekstu Timor Leste ha'u seida'uk fiar katak proposta ida ne’e mai husi ONU. Mas se proposta ida ne’e los duni mai husi ONU ha'u bele dehan proposta ida ne’e proposta mai husi ema bulak. Ema ne'ebe hato’o hanoin ida ne’e la kunese Timor Leste. E ha'u bele diskunfia nia katak nia iha plano para halo aat Timor Leste e estraga imajen UNMIT iha Timor Leste. Timor Leste persiza duni lei ida para regula Instituasaun Siguransa Siipil sira nebe barak-barak iha Dili ne’e. Lei siguransa internal ko'alia klaru ona katak persiza duni lei ida ketak para regula sira. Para estado bele kontrola sira didi'ak tamba ema balun dehan katak iha siguransa sivil balun diskuanfia iha armas maibe persiza investigasaun los ka lae. Tamba proposta ne’e mai husi ema ONU entau konplikado uituan. Ha'u depois de rona proposta ne’e hau dehan ema ne’e hakarak saida. Espera que nia hanoin ne’e la representa hanoin ONU nian. Uluk kuando Ministra Justisa apresenta lei usa de armas e tamba ministra ba tiha vizita, be Permeiro Ministro delega hau ba apresenta lei ne’e iha Parlamento Nasional lei. Ne’e ema hotu kontra purtantu lei ne’e to’o agora arkivo tiha ona iha Parlemento nasional ne'eba. Ha'u mos konkorda katak lei usa de armas ne’e la merese iha.

TS: Saida mak ita boot nia esperansa ba ONU konaba kilat?

JTP: Depois de sai kontroversi kona ba kilat ne’e ONU nonok de'it to’o agora loloos sira tenki klarifika asunto balun ona ba publiko. Maibe la buat ida ita Timor oan hatene saida mak sira halo iha ne’e e espera que sira bele hadi’a sira nia servisu iha Timor Leste. Esperiensia ita nian, iha 2008 kuando ita hari’i operasaun konjunto sira la aseita mas depois ita susesu. Involvemento F-FDTL iha operasaun phisko social iha Suai mos sira la konkorda fali. Mas la buat ida tamba sira tenki duni, la konkorda se sira konkorda projeto ba sira la iha ona. ONU mai iha Timor Leste para ajuda ita tamba ne’e ita Timor oan tenki hamutuk para depois hatudu ba sira katak to’o ona tempo para imi bele fila. Mesmo nune'e ita tenki lian ida deit tamba estrangeiro sira koando mai iha Guverno mak guverno tos oituan sira halai ba orgaun seluk ona. Purtantu mai ita hamutuk hatudu ba sira katak obrigado ba imi nia ajuda e agora imi bele ba fali nasaun hanesan Sudaun, Afganistaun e Iraque. (TS)

Chinese navy Trains F-FDTL Navy on Chinese built Patrol Boats

Three days after the celebration of East Timor's restauration of it's independence the two F-FDTL patrol boat arrived in Timor Leste from China on May 23th 2010. Two years ago Timor Leste Government signed a contract of US$ 40 million to Polly Thecnology a chinese company to build the two F-FDTL boats which angered the TL's closest friend Australia. In that time the Australian intended to donoted their second hand Pacific patrol boat which according to some Timorese leaders said the Australian Government give them a litle bit head ache. "They were about to give a presentation to the government when we took decission to buy from china," said a high level government official who asked not to name. As Tempo semanal noted that the contract was signed during a weekend in march 2008 while the Australian Team is prepared to present their plan in the coming week.


This is about pride for a country and it's people and the two boat is the biggest project ever for F-FDTL since the it was transforma to the Timor Leste official arrmed forces in 2001. Now the F-FDTL marine component under trainning by their Chinese counter part on how to deal with two patrol boat name after the Jaco island and an area in Same District call Betano.

On 28/05/2010 the secretary state Julio Tomas Pinto together with some civilian sail to Atauro island on the Betano boat. It was take 20 minutes from Dili while it was only sail with 20 knots. "the boat is in very good condision because from Dili to Atauro take us only 20 minutes and it was not yet use the full capacity, "said julio.

Japanese Deputy Minister Defence in Dili

The Japanese Deputy Minister of Defence Meets Julio Pinto Timor Secretary of State for Defence

Timor to Build a South Coast Navy Base.

Timorese Secretary of State for Defence, Julio Tomas Pinto, Chief of the Defence Force Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak and Commander of the Naval Component, Commander Pedro Klamar Fuik along with senior defence force officers visited Betano on the south coast in Manufahi as well as the Manatuto area last Sunday.

They were there to scope out locations for for the building of a naval supply base for the two Shanghai Class Patrol Boats currently being built in China for the Timorese Defence Force, FALINTIL-FDTL. The company constructing the vessels Poly Technology is in the final stages of construction and Commander Klamar Fuik will travel to China in the next few days to view the ships and participate in their first sea trials.According to the Secretary of State for Defence, Julio Pinto, the Betano area is very important as it will assist in supplying the vessels when the patrol in between Viqueque and Cova Lima Districts at the eastern and western ends of the southern coastal region.  The naval supply base is being review now as the 2010 budget discussion is underway and the vessels are due to arrive next year in the month of March.

SSR in Timor-Leste.

Reforming the Security Sector :

Facing Challenges, Achieving Progress in Timor Leste
Júlio Tomás Pinto*

The idea to write the present article came about when I read the report by the investigation team assembled by the Government to study the "Maliana Case", the letter dated 3 July 2009 to the Prime Minister by the Representative of the Secretary General of the UN in Timor-Leste, Dr Atul Khare, on human rights violations by PNTL and the F-FDTL, and the report on the unilateral investigation carried out by UNPOL on this matter. My purpose in writing this article is to encourage a reflection on the approach taken by foreign personalities, agencies or countries in Timor-Leste regarding the reform of the security sector. Also, I am often puzzled with the carelessness displayed by many foreign reviewers who assess our work.

I ask the agencies listed in this article to take my words as food for thought rather than negative criticisms. I trust this article will contribute to strengthening cooperation between Timor-Leste and other countries, as well as between Timor-Leste and the UN.

The State of Timor-Leste, through the President of the Republic, the President of the National Parliament and the Prime-Minister, created last year a strictly Timorese team called Group for the Reform and Development of the Security Sector. It is expected that the Reform of the Security Sector will enable the development and consolidation of the existing agencies, so that they may perform their tasks with efficiency, legitimacy and accountability, thereby ensuring safety to all citizens. It would do well to remind that this reform of the Security Sector is directly linked to the Government's policy concerning the development of its Program. This is why the Group for the Reform of the Security Sector was assembled in the first place. As such, the team is coordinated by two Secretaries of State, namely the Secretary of State for Security and the Secretary of State for Defence.

The said team has been doing an excellent job along with the advisor to the President of the Republic, Dr Roques Rodrigues. The so-called High Level Meetings on the Reform of the Security Sector, where issues concerning the Reform of the Security Sector are debated, involve the President of the Republic, the President of the National Parliament and the Prime Minister, in addition to the two Secretaries of State and some advisors. The UN has also put together a team to support Timor-Leste regarding the Reform of the Security Sector, under the cooperation agreement with the Government of Timor-Leste signed in June 2008. Despite positive reviews by some friends who think the program has been developing for the past year, I do believe that they do not have a Security Sector Reform implementation program. I feel that this is due to the fact that the UN only takes part in the context of "assistance" in conformity with is mandate, which would be important to understand in terms of a peacekeeping vs. peacebuilding dualistic analysis. Indeed, during this period the UN team has held a seminar, placed advisors at the Ministry of Defence and Security in a unilateral manner and has been carrying out mentoring and retraining actions in the PNTL. It seems that the mandate of the UN is only to work alongside with the Secretary of State for Security, particularly with the PNTL. Effectively, in the Sector of Defence it seems that they only work alongside us to speak about training in Human Rights, separation between the roles of the Police and of the Military, advisors and Military Liaison officer training. I myself have requested them to provide training to the F-FDTL in terms of Peacekeeping Forces, but so far no plan has been submitted to us.

When I, in my capacity as Secretary of State for the Defence, meet with a representative from the UN or any country, I tell them two things: firstly, that advisors must present me (in my capacity as Secretary of State and Timorese citizen) several options, as well as their negative and positive implications, so that I may make my decision. This means that no advisor can present me a single option and ask me to follow it, claiming it is the only possible choice.

If on one hand we live in the age of globalization, where the classic concept of State sovereignty has become dimmed, as a result of the need for transparency, cooperation and even the right of interference, where the Timorese sovereignty is limited to the Flag and the National Anthem, as well as some gestures of courage to make decisions without pressure by other States, on the other hand Timor-Leste is a small country but is nevertheless a sovereign State. Consequently its position in relation to any issue has the same value as that of any other State. Accordingly, other States must respect Timor-Leste as the sovereign Nation that it is.

Secondly, I always tell them that the development of the Sector of Defence must be based on bilateral cooperation. This is important for Timor-Leste to be able to set the military system format it wants to establish. This format surely does not include a myriad of different training actions provided by various countries. Should this come to pass, I do not know what the Timorese military system would become. This is why the F-FDTL command has decided that presently the basic military training provided is to be based on the Portuguese system, which is in accordance with the NATO standards, with the possibility of specialized training being based on the systems of other countries. The purpose of this is to provide uniform training so as to enable an efficient Timorese military system in the future. This is preferable to having each country implement its system in the F-FDTL, which would create considerable confusion.

Until 2007 Timor-Leste did not have a National Defence Law and there was no legal diploma approving the Organic of the Military Police. These are just two examples within the scope of legislative drafting. In this field, and in relation to the Sector of Defence, the Government is not required to announce what it is doing or to report to the UN. Nevertheless, we can summarize the reforms completed up until now:

Firstly, at a legislative level, we can highlight the Decree-Law approving the Organic of the Ministry of Defence and Security, the Draft National Security Law regulating the cooperation between the PNTL, the F-FDTL and Civil Protection, the revision of the Military Service Law and the Decree-Law on its regulation, the Draft National Defence Law and the Remuneration Regime for the F-FDTL; currently being prepared we have the Legal Regime for the Retirement of Soldiers, the Military Programming Law, the Military Justice Code and the Decree-Law on the Promotion to General in the F-FDTL. This Decree-Law is important because there have not been promotions from lieutenant-colonel to general for nine (9) years. Finally, the Secretariat of State for Defence, according to the Government Program, is preparing the necessary changes to the Defence Policy, in order to enable the implementation of the National Defence Law proposed to the Parliament.

Secondly, at a structural level, we highlight that the organic law of the Ministry of Defence and Security enables a clear distinction between the political level of defence and security, as a structure constituted by the Minister of Defence and Security, from the military level of the F-FDTL, as well as the autonomous structure that is the National Defence Institute (NDI).

Thirdly, at a training level, we highlight the definition of a Training System and Concept and the drafting of the new Employment Concept for the F-FDTL.

Fourthly, at an administrative level, the Secretariat of State for Defence has already achieved some goals, consubstantiating the legislative drafting process, particularly in changing the concept of recruitment from a mandatory to a voluntary one, improving the subsidies to the F-FDTL, improving the promotion regime for soldiers, implementing the Remuneration System for Soldiers and reviewing the size and capacity building required for the human resources of the Secretariat of State for Defence.

Fifthly, we must highlight the importance given by the Government to F-FDTL infrastructures and equipment. This is a relevant aspect, as previously FALINTIL worked in Aileu beneath canvases. Even when they were moved to Dili they continued to work in containers, and after the 2006 crisis they were transferred to Tasi Tolu, where they continued to work in containers. As such, it was considered important to repair the Military Training Centre of Metinaro. Also in relation to infrastructures, the Government requested financial assistance from China in order to construct the Headquarters and the Building for the Ministry of Defence. In conformity with this, the Chinese Government presented six months ago the project for the Headquarters and the Building for the Ministry of Defence to the Secretary of State for Defence, which was approved by the latter. Therefore the Headquarters for the F-FDTL is scheduled for construction in 2010. Furthermore, this bilateral cooperation with China will also include the construction of 100 houses for F-FDTL members starting next September.

Within the scope of infrastructures, the Government of Timor-Leste has already allocated an amount in last year's budget for constructing Warehouses, the Military Police Building and the Metinaro Armoury.

In addition to this, and according to a review made by Timor-Leste in relation to information on the problem caused by the entry of an enormous number of illegal fishermen in the Timor Sea, the Government has decided to acquire two patrol vessels from the Chinese company Poly Technology. In fact, the previous Government already had plans to purchase patrol vessels. In 2006 the Government had allocated a sum of 10 million dollars for purchasing the vessels, one million dollars for training and three hundred thousand dollars for fuel, but these amounts were suddenly removed by the 2006 mid-year budget. In 2007, responding to a letter by the F-FDTL, the then Prime Minister Dr José Ramos-Horta stated in a dispatch that the vessels might be acquired in 2008. The purpose of purchasing the vessels is firstly to provide resources to the F-FDTL, the Naval Component and other bodies. Secondly it seeks to enable control of the Timor Sea along with neighbouring countries, especially in the South Coast. Politically it seems positive for Timor-Leste to buy these two vessels.

In relation to bilateral cooperation, agreements were signed with Portugal and Canada. Timor-Leste is also discussing and reviewing agreements with Australia, Indonesia and other States wishing to cooperate with Timor-Leste.

Portugal and Australia are two particularly important States for Timor-Leste, as the existing reports indicated that they are the ones who invest more in our country's defence. We have always received support from Portugal, even during the Resistance.

The Portuguese support to Timor-Leste is based on a Technical and Military Cooperation Agreement that includes, inter alia, support through the provision of advisors to the Training Centre of Metinaro, the Naval Component in Hera and to the F-FDTL Headquarters. Presently a Portuguese Language Centre is being established in Metinaro. Portugal is also assisting in the assessment for border demarcation and maritime authority system for Timor-Leste. In addition, they are providing funding for the maintenance of the two vessels they previously offered to Timor-Leste. They have also offered training opportunities in Portugal for sergeants and officers.

Military cooperation with Australia is also very good. We should highlight Australia's assistance to Timor-Leste through the DCP (Defence Cooperation Program). A clear example of this is the Military Training Centre of Metinaro, where almost all the investment comes from Australia. On 17 April 2008 Timor-Leste and Australia held a forum called Defence Cooperation Talks, where both countries agreed on assistance to the construction of an armoury for the F-FDTL and to the construction of a Specialized Training Centre in the Training Centre of Metinaro. So far, however, only the latter has been completed.

On 26 June 2009 Timor-Leste and Australia met again within the scope of the Defence Cooperation Talks in order to review the 2008 Project and the new projects for 2010. Speaking for myself, I was happy to see that Australia wishes to continue providing assistance to Timor-Leste.

Cooperation with the United States of America is also clearly positive. On 18 August Dili will host a Military Conference between Timor-Leste and the United States of America, also designated as USA-Timor-Leste Bilateral Military Conference. Cooperation is also favourable with the US Command in the Pacific, and we find some agreement points for working together.

The experience with the United States of America has been a positive one, as almost all their activity in Timor-Leste has been approved by the Government, corroborating the idea that, as a sovereign State, any activity done by a foreign State, including the United States of America, must be authorized by the Timorese Government. Accordingly, the sending of US Navy vessels to carry out training exercises in our territory under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), existing between both countries since 2003, requires authorization by Timor-Leste. As such, and since the US plan foresees that 3,000 US marines will travel to Timor-Leste, it would be desirable for these training exercises to take place in coordination with the F-FDTL, in order to enable transfer of knowledge to the Timorese forces.

Once more, although Timor-Leste is a small State, it is nevertheless a sovereign Nation in the World, as evidenced by the cooperation ties it has built, including with neighbouring Indonesia. Indeed, in addition to the countries listed above, Timor-Leste has also improved its relationship with Indonesia. After the visit by the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and his entourage to Indonesia in 2008, this country allowed for the first time F-FDTL officers to attend the SESKO Angkatan Laut TNI in Surabaya. In 2010 the F-FDTL will send a senior officer to Jakarta, in order to attend the LEMHANNAS (National Defence Institute of Indonesia) in Jakarta. Furthermore, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak has already invited the Chief of the Defence Force of Indonesia to visit Timor-Leste later this year.

Regarding this matter, which is a recurrent one since we cooperate with so many countries, it is important to understand that we do not want to become militarily dependent from other States. This is why we believe it is convenient to cooperate with various countries in the World. As such we have a rather positive relationship with Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific islands and the ASEAN countries. We also have healthy relationships with China, the United States of America, Indonesia, Portugal and so many other countries.

Out of the several activities already mentioned, I would like to highlight the importance to Timor-Leste of the National Security Law and the National Defence Law, as they regulate the role of the President of the Republic as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, as well as the connection between the F-FDTL and the Secretary of State for Defence, the Prime Minister, the National Parliament and other holds of high public bodies. This is a particularly important matter as it helps the Government to "prevent anyone from politicizing the F-FDTL and prevent the F-FDTL to interfere in politics". Indeed, it strengthens the constitutional idea that the Armed Forces must be nonpartisan, according to the principle that "the F-FDTL understand politics but must not participate in political meetings or display their political convictions". I should stress that I learned a great deal during my work with the F-FDTL, as the commanders told me "not to give them anything that they were not supposed to do". This expression serves to show in a clear manner the justification for separating politics from the military establishment.

The National Security Law is also indispensible because it regulates cooperation between the F-FDTL, the PNTL and Civil Protection in emergency situations. In fact, the Organic Law of the Ministry of Defence and Security, which has already been approved, foresees an Integrated Crisis Management Centre. Therefore we must be organized to provide assistance to the population in emergency situations, e.g. caused by some natural disaster. Although I have received no such official information, rumours have it that the National Security Law is not appreciated by the UN, as they say it militarizes the police. I hope that this information is not accurate.

After receiving that information from some Timorese citizens, I told them that foreigners always think that what Timor-Leste does is wrong. Only others do things right. There are events from which we can conclude that Timor is always wrong and the UN is always right! Let us consider the crisis caused by the attack on the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister. Some of the distinguished gentlemen of the UN conveyed to the media that the Timorese were in charge of security. Perhaps they forgot that so far there are two Police Commanders, one from the PNTL and the other from the UNPOL. And it is the UNPOL Commander who is in charge! It was only recently that responsibility was turned to the PNTL in three districts, namely Lospalos, Oecussi and Mantuto.

Let us consider another situation. When the Joint Command travelled to the airport to receive the petitioners arriving from Oecussi and the F-FDTL showed up with the weapons they had brought from the KKO HQ, the UNPOL drafted a report stating that the F-FDTL had threatened them with large calibre weapons. The inaccuracy of this report indicates that the authors forget that in a situation of martial law the military must always be prepared, in what one might call a "state of readiness".

Let us now consider the review of the recent events in Maliana. UNPOL presented a report stating that the F-FDTL breached human rights and threatened Philippine elements of the UNPOL by pointing weapons at their chests. After the High Level Meeting with the President of the Republic, the Government assembled a team to investigate the Maliana events. The team consisted of two officers from the State Ministry, Lieutenant-Colonel Koliati from the F-FDTL and Lieutenant Niki from the Military Police, international advisor Chandrabaland for the Secretariat of State for Defence, Inspector Domingos from the PNTL and Dr Anacleto Ribeiro from the Secretariat of State for Security. The investigation concluded that there was no indication of F-FDTL members having "pointed weapons at the chests of UNPOL members". As such it would seem that UNPOL presented an inaccurate report of the Maliana events, which can only serve the purpose of bringing discredit to the F-FDTL. However, the negative campaign to damage the image of F-FDTL continues. Notwithstanding the report from the investigation team, an article appeared in the Worldpoliticsreview.com entitled "East Timor: Security Sector Relapse?" in which it stated that "the domestic security situation improves in the months thereafter, but the police remained sub-ordinate to the army, which still involves itself in the internal security. According to eyewitnesses, UN Police attempts to intervene in a public order incident in Maliana in June 2009 near the Indonesian border, resulted in F-FDTL guns being pointed at the multinational Forces".

More recently, there was another case in the bar called "Casa Minha". Let us make a more detailed analysis of the event. Information from the police agent who was the victim and the youths who witnessed the event, affirmed that two drunken GNR members beat up the PNTL agent until he fell and for this reason the PNTL agent shot at the wheels of the GNR vehicle. UNPOL makes a report stating that the PNTL agent carried a pistol into the bar and fails to mention the intoxicated state of the GNRs.

This fact warranted the intervention of the PNTL General Commander, Longuinhos Monteiro, who strongly protested to the UNPOL Commissioner, Luís Miguel Carrilho who is from Portugal. Longuinhos Monteiro affirmed that "I ask that the two GNR members who beat up my agent be investigated thoroughly" (STL, 13 July 2009). What is known is that up until now the GNR members have been listed as unknown. Only more recently has there been an investigation initiated on this case, however, UNPOL has already issued a suspension notice to the victim, Police Agent Fransisco Magno HAU, while on the ather hand the GNR from UNPOL who beat up the victim are still free.

In relation to this case, the Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha (16 July 2009), published inaccurate information in their article "Xanana's security leads an attack against the GNR" and the newspaper Noticias Lusofonia (16 July 2009) printed an article entitled "Xanana's Security Accused of Attacking Portuguese Military".

This is not the first time the GNR and UNPOL have violated human rights. We have the case of the PNTL agent, Constantino de Carvalho who was beaten up by the GNRs until he fell. We have the case of the Baucau PNTL Commander, Adérito Ximenes, whom the UNPOL accused of committing human rights violations against one of their members, but in the end, the Court of Appeal decided in favour of Commander Adérito and determined that the UNPOL member was wrong. We also have the case of the UIR Commander, Agostinho Gomes, whose intervention was aimed at resolving an incident at Manleuana Dili, however UNPOL accused him of human rights violations. Of course the UN wants to defend its reputation as UNPOL or UN but it forgets that it is not a "perfect" institution. If it had been a PNTL or F-FDTL member who was drunk and had beaten up others, perhaps the UN would have moved heaven and earth to produce a report in which they would have written a great deal on human rights. We always hear that alcohol, women and playing with guns do not go well together as they represent a security threat. On this matter we are all in full agreement as long as it does not apply only to the Timorese. In Australia, the military also apply this principle. But it seems that perhaps it does not apply to the UN! It is necessary to understand the fact that each of the interventions from each of the UNPOL countries has been uncoordinated and each has acted as they wanted.

The PNTL General Commander, Longuinhos Monteiro, is currently working to repair all that. What we do know is that if we compare the character, self-confidence and performance of some PNTL members with some UNPOL members, ours are much better. UNPOL members are controlled by politicians from their countries but they still want to teach our PNTL that they are better professionals than we.

CONCLUSION: We all move according to the principle of "wanting to do what we (Timor Leste) want, rather than what others want". Although Timor-Leste is a small country, we have our own history, conveyed from generation to generation. As such, the Timorese must be able to choose between foreign opinions, since it would be unwise to follow those that merely seek to serve the interests of those countries.

Despite the negative aspects of international cooperation listed above, this cooperation is still extremely important and requires better coordination between Timorese authorities, the UN and foreign experts so that the Security Sector Reform project can move forward. However, this requires honesty by all. The UN and we must think on how we can improve things.

All of us who work on reforming the Security Sector have the strong support of the President of the Republic, the President of the National Parliament and the Prime Minister, seeking to enable the proper reform of the Security Sector of Timor-Leste. Here we should highlight the contributions of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, who have always given us the utmost support in order for us to be able to apply that which is written in the Constitution of the Republic.

Finally, under the principle of "we (Timor Leste) do it because we (Timor Leste) want to follow universal values, not because others tell us to", meaning that "we (Timor Leste) want to do what we (Timor Leste) want, rather than what others want", it is important to understand that the experience of other States should be just a reference to us, rather than trying to reproduce it. If we all want to implement the ideal concept of security sector reform, it is important to understand that it will necessarily take its time, as only so can we find what is good for Timor-Leste.

*Secretary of State for Defence

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste