FALINTIL-FDTL Sacks Soldiers and Sets Example for the Country

F-FDTL Commander, Major General Taur Matan Ruak

Dili, Tempo Semanal, 28/05/2011

On 25 May 2006 during the political – security crisis that plunged Timor-Leste into chaos FALINTIL-FDTL soldiers shot and killed a number of unarmed PNTL officers subsequent to a surrender in central Dili.

The UN Commission of Inquiry recommended that a number of F-FDTL soldiers be prosecuted for the murder of these police officers.  F-FDTL then gave way for the public trial of 4 F-FDTL soliders and one officer in Dili District Court in 2008.  The four mean were then found guilty and sentenced to 8-10 years each for their role in the massacre.

In 2010 the President of the Republic Jose Ramos-Horta commutted the soliders sentences and they returned to duty in FALINTIL-FDTL.  Some months later one of the men Armindo do Silva, a 24 year veteran of FALINTIL, was retired with full honours in an emotional retirement ceremony.

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On 27 May 2011 FALINTIL-FDTL announced that the remaining three men were dimissed from military service effective immediately.  Brigadier General Lere Annan Timor, Deputy Commander of F-FDTL, announced that the 3 men were being dismissed subject to a military discipline process.  Lere further explained that the judicial process is over but that the military excersiced its right to enforce military law for undisciplined behavior by the above mentioned soldiers.

According the Tempo Semanal sources inside F-FDTL there may be further dismissals in the future, including the solider that is accused of killing an elderly woman in Balide Dili 10 days ago.

The United Nations and the international community have regularly criticized F-FDTL for its perceived lack of discipline and poor rule of law record.  The recent decision as above is made outside of UN influence according to F-FDTL sources.  The F-FDTL have removed several soldiers in the past 3 years including one involved in the fighting over of a woman with an US Navy sailor in 2009 in a bar in Dili.

One defence force source told Tempo Semanal that while these decisions are necessary there is considerable agitation inside the defence force because police and civilian institutions rarely is ever sack officers or officials for professional misconduct.  He told Tempo Semanal “why us, when we always sacrificed in the past, and not them too?”

Taur Beats Down Portuguese in the Courts of Timor-Leste.

Major General Taur Matan Ruak interviewed in Metinaro last week speaks out aggressively against the ongoing use of Portuguese in Timor-Leste' courts. Claiming that common Timorese who find accused cannot understand the charges, processes, verdicts and sentencing. He states that every international staff in the court system should either learn Tetun or leave the country.

In 2001 the Constituent Assembly adopted Portuguese as an official language in what was a generally unpopular decision as the vast majority of Timorese do not speak, understand or read Portuguese. 

Video: Rai Los (Ex-Militia Leader-2006), and Former ABRI/TNI Demonstrate in Support of Horta: To Kill Justice.

TEMPO SEMANAL TV

This is video footage of the Pro President Horta Demonstration of less that 100 people at Nicolau Aiport two days ago.  The demonstration was to support Horta in his efforts to kill Justice and free Maternus Bere.  Full 6 October 2009 story here.

The gentlemen that is reading the declaration in support of Horta as seen in the below video footage is Manuel "Mau Hura" Goncalves. Goncalves was a major supporter of Major Alfreod Reinado, whose attack on Horta's house in February 2008 resulted in Alfredo Reinado's death and Horta shooting and suffering major wounds.  Those others present at the scene are now standing trial in Dili District Court.

Supporters greet President Horta, Mau Hura, Commander Dudu, and Rai Los, (others are Ex-Petitioners,

MUNJ, PDN and other characters.)

As shown in the news story done by David O'Shea and John Martinkus in regard to Theory of Conspiracy in August 2006, "Mau Hura" was shown as an active and armed participant in the attack on FALINTIL-FDTL Headquarters in Tasi Tolu on 24 May 2006. According to the Independent Comission of Inquiry a number of people were killed and wounded on both sides, and ex-FDTL Sargeant "Commander Rai Los"'s militia lead the attack.

Manuel "Mau Hura" Goncalves

Vicente "Rai Los" da Conceicao

Just as in the case of 1975-99, there is also no justice for 2006.  Those that are alleged to have committed crimes continue to walk free in Timor-Leste, and even meet the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste upon his arrival in a show of support for the President's policies on justice.

Rai Los (Ex-Militia Leader-2006), and Former ABRI/TNI Demonstrate in Support of Horta: To Kill Justice.

Only about 100 ex-Petitioners, MUNJ (pro Alfredo political action group) and PDN, including former guerrilla commander Ernesto "Dudu" Fernandes,  ex-TNI KOREM Intelligence Officer Juliao da Silva, and Vicente "Rai Los" da Conceicao (Commander of the Rai Los Liquica Militia - circa 2006) came to show their support for President Horta his return from abroad on 6 October 2009.

Commandante Rai Los and then Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta, 2006. 

 

 The Rai Los Armed Militia, 2006

The President of Timor-Leste walked out of the gate from the plane to accept the petition of support from Manuel Goncalves.  PNTL officers were ordered to move the demonmstration to the gate.  This ONTL atttitude was much more welcoming that the pro-International Tribunal protest in front of Hotel Timor on 30 August 2009.

Under the hot mid day sun President Horta heard the 7 point declaration, including:

We give maximum support to the State's decision to extradite and deport and deport ex-Laksaur militia commander Maternus Bere".

Bere was arrested on 8 August 2009 in Suai and detained in Becora Prison until his release to the Indonesian Embassy on 30 September.

Horta's supporters criticised the United Nations, International and National NGOs and the Timorese Parliament, arguing that the people do not want an international Tribunal for human rights violations in Timor-Leste

They stated that " the majority of this nation do not want an International Tribunal, and especially the victims do not care for such an idea".

The security around the airport was very tight.  PNTL officers armed with paramilitary semi-automatic assault rifles set up checkpoints around the airport complex.  Checking all private and public vehicles as they enter the airport area.

One PNTL officer stated that: "we heard some people might try to come to throw stones at the President."

However the convoy which came to bring people in support of the President was not checked by the PNTL checkpoints.

This demo has created divisions between the Office of the President and other parties.

"I told Joel [President's media officer] not to use any FRETILIN symbols and I as Secretary-General of FRETILIN will not allow FRETILIN youth to join the protest as we want to remain uninvolved, and do not want to be blamed in case that there are problems." said former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.

But the head of the President's security detail, former disgraced PNTL Deputy Commander (Operations) Ismail Babo lodged a report to PNTL alleging that the Alkatiri has threatened some members of President Horta's staff.

President Horta Defends His position on Maternus Bere (Video release)

TEMPO SEMANAL TV


During the two days of National Kongress of Victims of Human Rights Violations 1975-99 Dili  8-9 September 2009 the victims and family of victims criticised the Timorese President and Prime Minister position with regards to the matter of justice for human rights abuses in Timor-Leste.





Above: Video of the Public Meeting


President Ramos Horta in his speech during the 10th anniversary of East Timor Referendum on 30 August 2009, criticised Amnesty International and other defenders of human rights inside and outside Timor and declared that he does not agree with efforts to create an international tribunal for human rights violations in Timor-Leste.




Above: Video of President Ramos-Horta defending his and the Governments decision to release Bere.

On the same day East Timor Government released Maternus Bere, the second Command of Laksaur Militia, who was indicted by the United Nations Special Panel for Serious Crimes.



Above: Second Video of President Ramos-Horta defending his and the Governments decision to release Bere.

In August 2009 Bere was arrested by the community in Suai after crossing the border from Indonesia - and handed over to police authorities - as a warrant for his arrest was issued when he was indicted in 2001 by the UN.

However, the UN Police, under their executive police mandate, allowed Bere to roam free in Suai district for 3 days and only took Bere once the community arrested him.

On 02/09/09 the UNHR Commissioner criticised East Timorese President but the UN is trying to wash their hand in terms of Justice by removed the Special Panel for Serious Crimes Unit.

For the full coverage of Mr. Bere case please read Tempo Semanal's next edition.  Tempo Semanal has obtained leaked copies of Bere's passport and other documents which reveal much about the case, including a 4 September 2009 letter from the National Director of the Timorese prison service.

Horta Threatens to Resign: Parliament Surrenders

President Ramos-Horta enjoying the street life of New York city during the 2008 meeting of the United Nations General Assembly September 2008. Joined by Lisa Reefke of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Affairs.


President Jose Ramos-Horta has threatened to resigned from his post after yesterday' vote in the National Parliament of Timor-leste which barred him from official travel to New York.

Yesterday 10 MPs voted against and 16 for his request to travel while 3 abstained. President Ramos-Horta responded by threatening to resign within 24 hours. He gave them a deadline of 1700 today for the MPs to change their votes. At 1727 today Parliament acted as a rubber stamp
and voted for him to travel 31 for, 10 against and 5 abstentions.

President Ramos-Horta met with foreign representatives in his palace to inform of them his intentions.

"Seeing as yesterday Parliament over stepped their consitutional competencies and have intefered in the working of the Presidency I will take a stand." said President Ramos-Horta in a press conference this evening.

He is now satisfied with the vote and after the Parliament reviewed its position. But the debate in Parliament was very hot. FRETILIN MPs were split on the issue while AMP MPS voted en masse to rubber stamp the process.

PUN Leader and MP Fernanda Borges said right now timor leste is facing an institutional crisis. "we in this Parliament have established a bad precedent for the future and we are not being mindful of the people's aspirations to have truth and justice."

Ms. Borges was in Suai yesterday to participate in the tenth anniversary of the Suai Church massacre for which there has yet been no justice - despite the fact one the perpeprators was captured and then released.

"However Mr. President and Prime Minister violated the constitution to released people from prison on their instructions despite the fact they do not have the Consitutional right to do it.

This is the reason this parliament voted the way it did yesterday. This is a protest vote to open our eyes." she continued that, "if we are truly a democratic state and not a disctatorship of Mr. Ramos Horta or Mr. Gusmao means we must demand the resignation of the two. And not that the President should threaten to resign."

Horta says that under the consitution he is responsible to the Prime Minister and not to the Parliament. He claimed that Parliament should have called upon the Prime Minister to explain Government policy rather than playing politics with the Presidency.

Xanana and Horta Dancing with Krisdayanti while Victims Crying for Justice

TEMPO SEMANAL TV

In the eve of 10th anniversary President Horta and PM Xanana danced with the Indonesian artist Krisdayanti to celebrate the Timor Referendum while the hero's family and some other people are still with aching hearts after the President called for backing off from justice for 1999 and during 24 years of Indonesian army illegal occupation in this country. The President with confidence told the media on 29/08/09 that, "If you went around with me, random around the country as I've done for many, many months across the country, meeting barefoot people all over the country, thousands of them, not one, not one raised the issues of 99, not one talk about putting Indonesians on trial."

Mr. Horta added that it is only a small number of human rights activists who are calling for an international tribunal to be set up. "And unlike many of them, these so-called international human rights groups and Timorese activists, I lost almost half of my brothers and sisters. And even myself I was almost killed dead," he said. "So I know what being a victim is. I know what is the pain of a mother who lost her children. I don't talk academic jargon."

But during the last three days victims and family of TNI victims gathering in the capital Dili to discuss the way to fight against their President. There were very hit debate on the three main issues such as the released of Marternus Berek, the President speech and the compensation or reparation for the victims as well demanding to Indonesian army to help them to find the remain of their loves one. "The statement of our head of state shows that he is preserving impunity in this country. This is very bad atittude. So I will not vote for him to be our President in 2012," said Flabio Magno from Ermera District who lost more then 40 person of his family members.

He goes on calling that President has lost his hearth to the hero of the country. "I am very angry with our president." While a survivor from 06 September Suai church massacre sad with the President statement. "I would like to asked Mr. President when did he came and talk to the victims," said the Suai survivor.

"I have been campaign for an international tribunal since 2000 but the president never came to meet us as you see here now," he added.

"For me President speak on his own name not on my behalf because I am very sad with him,"