DEZAPARESIMENTU FORSADU AKONTESE IHA TIMOR-LESTE KA LAE?

BY: FREDERICO NUNO GERONIMO BOAVIDA

Kona ba Kritériu ida mak tama iha eskalaun Krime Mundiál to’o bele lori Estadu ida ba Tribunál Internasionál mak presizamente ida mós hanaran DEZAPARESIMENTU FORSADU.

Ita hahú rona kona ba prozekusaun, prosesamentu eh Prosedimentu atu lori no dada ema mak komete Krime da Guerra iha Timor-Leste apartir fim do Ano 1974  to’o 1999 nian iha tinan 2002. Tinan 2002 mak ofisialmente Ex-Ministru Negósiu Estranjeiru DR. José Manuel Ramos Horta hala’o enkontru ho Painel Espesial Altu Komiseriadu Nasaun Unida sira nian ba Direitus Umanus;  no mós  hahú estabelese CAVR mak ikus mai transforma ba CAV hodi hamosu asuntu Krime Violasaun Direitus Umanus.

                  Iha momentu nebá mosu Bloku Pro no Kontra Opiniaun mak husu razaun tansa tenke lori Kazu Timor-Leste ba Tribunál Internasional. Razaun la konkorda ne’e bazeia ba motivu Ekonomia, Kultura, Edukasaun, polítika no Geo-Polítika mak haree katak Timor-Leste sei presiza Relasaun Bilateral hodi halo rekoperasaun atu rekobre distruisaun Pós-Referendu, Repatriasaun, prosdimentus Estudus Universitárius, importa  ai-haan, asuntu ex-prizoneiru mak la identifikadu dauk, etc. No iha parte seluk foti kestaun kona ba pezu de krime: Violasaun Direitus Umanus hasoru feto nível aas (abuzu, raptu no violasaun seksuál), atrosídius, genosídius (Fronteira Terrestre, Alfándega eh Portu Dili, Ramelau, Kabalaki no Matebian, Kraras no Santa-Kruz). Tanba razaun sikat leet ida mós mak hanesan Prizoneiru Polítiku mak barak liu ba Cipinang eh Salemba no rona deit mak tama kadeia, entaun família hein, hein no hein. Iha ne’e hau dada duni kestaun ba família hein, hein no hein, maibé ata-oan sira nunka fila, sira ba nebé? Kestaun ida ne’e mak hanaran DEZAPARESIMENTU FORSADU!

Hau la duvida no mós Povu Timor-Leste tomak la duvida, Estadu RI rekonyese katak pratika duni no Estadu RDTL iha duni razaun ho lista kompletu hodi hanaran ema Timor-Lesteoan lakon leet iha Guerra Sívil 1974-1999 ne’e konsekuénsia husi Aktus Pratika Dezaparesimentu Forsadu. Ba kazu Dezaparesimentu Forsadu ne’e asuntu no problema ida mak Estadu rua RI no Timor-Leste tuur tiha ona ba tinan 14 nia laran apartir Ano 2000 to’o 2012 ne’e rekolye dadus hodi halo verifikasaun no apuramentu. Dadus dokumentadu eskritu, Transmisaun Televeziva no mós Rádio mak arkiva no dokumenta kona ba faktus levantadus. Hakarak ka lae ida ne’e kestaun Polítika mak povu tomak sei involve iha laran atu testemunya. Tanba razaun mak Kestaun Polítika kompete ba povu tomak, eim termu Direitus Internasionais ba povu vitimadu no povu sofredor ba Luta Ukun-an; entaun Povu Timor-Leste mak sai testemunya. Tansa la  husu testemunya RI; tanba razaun aneksasaun eh invazaun ho dalan agresaun brutál no illegal no fundamentál liu mak la iha kolonizador eh invazor iha Direitu atu husu responsabilidade ba Dezaparesimentu Forsadu husi parte sira nian, pelu kontráriu husi Parte Povu Luta ba ukun-an mak tenke husu responsabilidade no defende fortifeiu. Los katak buat ida, Rekompensasaun eh Rekonyesimentu no buat seluk mak Reparasaun ba pós konflitu liu-liu ba ukun-an. Entaun Rekompensaun eh rekonyesimentu ba Luta nain sira (Aktivista, Klandestinu, Diplomata iha Diáspora, guerreiro mak kombatente no veteranu sira); mós renkunyesimentu involvimentu povu tomak Timor-Leste nian mak simbolikamente kondekora ba sira mak naran tama iha Lista ba ukun-an. Enkuantu Reparasaun buat ida mak seluk tebe-tebes katak halo reparasaun ba kanek, terus, sikatriz tanba konsekúensia Guerra, psikolojikamente ita ema hela ho sikatriz traumatizadu tanba lakon família eh hetan fali membru família ho isin-lolon la kompletu, modifikadu iha aspektu psikolójiku eh rekursus umanus inkapasitadu; entaun RI no Timor-Leste; Rai rua ne’e iha Direitu ba Reparasaun Internasionál mak hanesan.

Tanba Kestaun Reparasaun Internasionál mak sei harii tiha Institutu Memorialiazaun ba Vítima mate-leet sira maibé iha Instutu ida ne’e nia laran sei efektivu atu prosesa rejistru no halo apuramentu ba Dadus Dezaparesimentu Forsadu. No Timor-Leste Lejisla, aprova, promulga no sosializa ona Lei kona ba Institutu Memorializasaun hahu tiha ona iha tinan 2010 to’o 2012 liu ba.

Iha ne’e hau la kohi atu koalia kona ba asuntu pasadu mak Estadu haloot tiha ona no la iha ona ulun moras ba bilateral RI ho Timor-Leste nian no Painel ba Tribunal Internasionál. Hau hakarak atu kria opiniaun públika ida atu konsiente kona ba Aktus Pratika Dezaparesimentu Forsadu ne’e mak oinsa.

Foti nudar izemplu feen buka lain; feen seluk no lain seluk hasara hodi renvidika (atu apudera ba-an) no hodi dezvia atensaun katak sira fali mak buka malu. Pur izemplu feen no lain hela besik malu eh iha bairro ida no nunka konsege hasoru malu ba tinan ida ho balun nia laran. Feen hasara ba ajuda serbisu iha Sentru, hafoin muda ba kontinua iha Fatuhada, fila ba bairro; engraxadu mak feen vítima husi Dezaparesimentu Forsadu mós hala’o muvimentu no dezlokasaun mak hanesn “Tal E Qual.” Ema mak lori lakon feen pratika “Task Force”; hodi dehan: “Ah sira nia Lia eh Prosesu Kazamentu sei Pendente, entaun ami nudar fetosan mak tama-sai mai troka malu hodi hein tanba lain inosente, mesak, fraku no la iha kapasidade.” Hafoin Mosu tátika de jogu de interese: parte mak hafalun subar feen atu pasa ba malu; ho razaun dehan:  “Ema ne’e lain abandona deit entaun imi fó netik alojamentu ho akomodasaun apropriadu!”; enkuantu aktividade husu apóiu ida ne’e mak hala’o “Task Force” ho motivu esplorasaun ba segunda intensaun no la konsiente hamosu Dezaparesimentu Forsadu mak lori konsekuénsia atu deskualifika fundamentu Dezaparesimentu durante Guerra; tanba ita iha pós ukun-an ne’e, sei pratika ba malu hasoru aktus mak ita kontra no ezize responsabilidade husi autor da Guerra. Jogu de interese iha ne’e; parte ida pro nudar Advogadu hodi dehan iha pratika esplorasaun no parte seluk kontra ho “advogado do diabo” dezmente, nega no dezafia katak la akontese esplorasaun. Parte ida hanoin hodi hakoak no estima, enkuantu parte seluk hanehan no ho forsa hala’o esplorasaun; mak parte rua artifisialmente hamosu senáriu montadu, organizadu no sistemátiku; hodi ikus mai ida mak lakon, lakon sai fali “advogado do diabo” no ida manan sai fila fali advogadu mak ho intensaun pratika Dezaparesimentu Forsadu. Pior liu tan se ita hahú hodi joga foer hamosu boatus: “Hetan Bolsu Estudus ba tiha ona estuda iha Rai liur; muda ba fatin seluk ba tiha serbisu iha rai liur; mate iha dezastre; mate tanba feen-lain afektadu HIV no SIDA; nia lain sei Frater eh Salesiano SDB; eh lain selingku ka iha amante ka hola feto rua, sst.”

Hau nia “Essay” ida ne’e hau aprezenta; hafoin de hamosu ilustrasaun nudar komparasaun kona ba Kritériu atu ezize responsabilidade husi Autor ba Dezaparesimentu durante Guerra  fim do Ano 1974-1999; no duvida ho aktus mak Real-Politics hatudu. Entaun hamosu mai hau pergunta pertinente atu husu: IHA KA LAE DEZAPARESIMENTU FORSADU AKONTESE DUNI IHA TIMOR-LESTE? Até Lá! Frederico NUNO Jerónimo Boavida – (Frenujebov) No. ID Kartaun Eleitorál: 00624197   –   HP: 7285694]

Xanana Husu Tulun Indonesia Arketektu Indonesia Dezenvolve TL

Tempo Semanal-Dili, 04.02.2011

Infra estrutura iha TL ukun rasik aan ne'e mukit Eis komandante Gerilleiru das Falintil husu tulun husi ninia eis inimigu SBY atu haruka  enjeneiru arketektu mai aijuda harii hikas infra estrutura iha Timor Leste.

“Hau dehan mos ba Prezidenti katak Ministru PU husi Indonesia haruka ona nia diretores balun mai ona iha ne’e.  Iha dezembru ha’u ko’alia ho Prezidenti Susilo Bambang Yudoyono. Ha’u husu atu ajuda ita nia AND ne’e. Atu haruka katuas sira ne’ebe especialistas, pensium tiha ona, engineiru arkitetus ne’ebe pensium tiha ona, mai ita lalika selu boboot,” dehan Primeiru Ministru Xanana ba Jornalista sira iha Palasiu Prezidenti Ai Tarak laran.

Durante tinan 24 Okupasaun Indonesia iha Timor Leste nota katak mosu dezenvolvimentu fiziku ne’e la’o maske nakonu ho violasaun ba direitus Umanus.

“Mai atu aijuda ita nia rekursus Umanus iha ne’e, hodi kapasita sira, hanorin sira atu haree servisu sira ne’e. Depois mos halo especializasaun kona ba se maka kaer pontes haree de’it ba pontes, se maka kaer Estrada haree de’it maka Estrada no se maka kaer uma haree de’it maka uma. La’e ita baku ba, baku mai ita la iha especializasaun ida nune’e ita ladun furak.,“ esplika Xanana.

Iha loron sorin Sexta feira (04/02), PM Xanana ofiialmente ba aprezenta ofisialmente orsamentu jeral do Estadu ho total bilaun US$1,306 maka aprova ona husi Parlamentu Nasional  ba Prezidenti da Republika iha Palasiu ai tarak laran.

Hafoin de enkontru ho Prezidenti PM Xanana dehan Prezidenti husu buat maka kona ba aumentu orsamentu do Estadu tinan 2011.  Foun-foun Governu propoin de’it Milaun US$985 maibe falta de’it oras haat nolu resin walu atu halo aprovasaun jeral OJE deputadu AMP sira husu aumenta milaun US$250 ba area eletrisidade.

“Prezidenti da republika husu kona ba Infra estrutura ne’ebe ami foo hatene kona ba Estrada no pontes balun ne’ebe tinan kotuk STA maka kaer. Kontratu hotu tiha ona maibe tiha ida ne’e maka atu hahu. Ha’u foo hatene mos kona ba Estrada balun tinan ne’e atu hahu,” dehan Xanana.

Lider do Governu esplika razaun kausa ne’ebe kauza ba OJE 2011 ne’e mai husi fundu hodi hataan ba situasaun emerjensia, subsidiu ba Veteranus, sosa Jerador eletricidade foun husi finlandia no Funduz infra estrututura maka sei kaer husi Ajensia Nasional Dezenvolvimentu (AND).

“Ha’u esplika mos ba Prezidenti kona ba Ajensia Nasional Dezenvolvimentu, ne’ebe ami atu kreia ne’e. Kreia atu reve kustus ba obras. Dala ruma buat ida kusta duzentus Mill karik, dala ruma ita kalkula sala bele sai fali trezentus no kuatru centus mil. Ne’ebe haree didiak ba, " dehan Primeiru Ministru IV Governu Konstitusional ne'e.

Nia realsa katak, “Ha’u dehan mos Ajensia Nasional nee’e ho labarik foin sa’e de’it maka ha’u iha ne’eba. Atu halo tuir PDD ne’ebe foin daudauk ne’e, sira too iha fatin ida sira haree ba ooohhh….la…eiiii sopu. Ema sopu. Para ita kontribui mos profesionalizmu iha ita nia setor privadu, hodi hadia sira. Hodi nune’e ita pouva osan I ita tau osan karik bu’at ne’e sai buat diak id aba ita nia rain.”

Iha Tinan Kotuk Governu harii Servisu Tekniku Aprovizionamentu (STA) ne’ebe too ikus falla atu dudu roda dezenvolvimentu la’o maibe hamosu fali kestaun ba dezenvolvimentu. (TS).

Internet Exclusive: Timorese Police Raid Brothels, UNMIT Staff on the Premises

Timorese police (PNTL) again raided Indonesian and Chinese owned bars in Dili today at 1930hrs.

PNTL Officers from the Immigration Service raided suspicious bars run by Indonesian and Chinese nationals in Dili, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

In the Indonesian owned NADA Bar authorities found 8 workers to have abused their tourist visa and to be working without the correct permits. NADA Bar is notorious in Dili for being a place where prostitution is carried out. Despite this, the Government continues to issue business registration permits to the owners. The situation at NADA Bar is so well known that even the Church has raised its concerns with the Government.

In the Chinese owned MOON Bar the authorities found 11 women and 1 man to have entered as tourists but to be in fact working in the bar as prostitutes.

"They are here to serve some United Nations (UNMIT) staff and Timorese men", said a male Timorese client who wanted to remain anonymous. MOON Bar is complete with private rooms and toilets.

When the raid occurred several United Nations officials were found in a VIP room and refused to show their faces to the Tempo Semanal video crew when caught on camera.

Many women and girls working in the bar barricaded themselves in the bathrooms rather than give themselves up to authorities. They remained locked in the bathrooms for 30 minutes. PNTL officers patiently waited for them to walk out, out of 12 of them many had  expired visas.

The MOON Bar is famous as a few months ago an elderly Timorese man was found dead from suspicious circumstances on the premises, as a result of what is believed to be sexual stamina medicine. After the man died the police closed the bar, but not long later it was allowed to reopen. The MOON Bar has been the subject of many raids over the years, and on many occasions the UN, UNPOL and PNTL allow it to continue to operate. Shortly after returning to Timor in 2007 UNMIT SRSG Atul Khare announced a zero tolerance policy for UN staff using such faciilities. His words appear to be an empty gesture.

Atul Khare: United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Empty Words.

Some members of the community and the Bishops have voiced their concerns about the activity in these bars.

Tempo Semanal has investigated those Timorese Government officials that visit the bars during work hours. A Timorese security guard told Tempo Semanal that during the day when the bar is closed Government officials visit, that is why the bar is closed. "After they finish their activities then they came out just put in my hand $60 and say, `buy cigarates'," explained the security guard. with a smile.

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