28 September 2011

S. Korea hands over decommissioned three patrol boats to Timor Leste (photo : Timor Leste Goverment)

Dili, (AP) - The naval component of the Armed Forces of Timor-Leste on 26 Sept welcomed the government's three South Korean patrol ships, baptized with the names of Kamenassa, Dili and Hera, which will enable us to strengthen the sovereignty in the waters Timorese.

"With these new naval units there is an increase, this strengthens the independence and sovereignty of Timor-Leste in national waters," he told Lusa news agency the captain of the sea-and-war Donaciano Gomes, commander of the Naval component of the Defence Forces Timor-Leste.

According to the captain of the sea-and-war, "armed forces through its navy need to be in the water for reasons of national sovereignty and independence."

The three units will be three squadrons, two coastal patrol and one of Intercession.

The ceremony was attended by several representatives of countries that have military cooperation with East Timor, including Portugal, Australia and Indonesia, as well as elements of the government and the Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta.

In his speech, Ramos-Horta thanked the "generous offer" of South Korea, as well as for all the help that has been granted to East Timor over the past 10 years.

"Our two countries are involved excecionais due to some common events in our history," he said.

Ramos-Horta thanked the other partners who have contributed to the development of the naval Timorese waters and prevented the country from being used for illicit activities.

During the ceremony, the boats were also baptized and blessed by your bridesmaids.

The Attorney General's Office, Ana Pessoa, was one of the women chosen to be the godmother of one of the new patrol vessels.

(TV1.RTP)

29 Agustus 2011



Pindad's SS2 riffles (photo : Detik Forum)

Forgive and forget as Dili signs Jakarta defence pact

EAST Timor's small army will be supplied with Indonesian weapons after the signing of a ground-breaking agreement between the two countries that were once deadly enemies.

Australia has 380 military personnel in the half-island state and has a close security relationship, but some in the capital, Dili, complain that Canberra can be excessively bureaucratic in its dealings on defence.

On a recent visit to Dili, Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who also serves as Defence Minister, signed a memorandum of understanding covering security co-operation, including training and military logistical support.

The deal was expected to be quickly ratified by the East Timor parliament, diplomatic and government sources in Dili told The Australian. It is understood the agreement will also cover the training of East Timorese military and police officers.

At the signing on August 8, Mr Gusmao and Mr Yusgiantoro were pictured hoisting aloft an Indonesian-made light machine gun of a type to be acquired by the East Timor Defence Force.

The weapon is a local variant of the Belgian 5.56mm FN Minimi.

The agreement will also provide for the establishment of a Timor Leste-Indonesia Defence Co-operation Joint Committee to co-ordinate broader areas of co-operation.

The agreement also covers co-operation on aviation, although no details of this have emerged. However, there have been suggestions that East Timor wants to acquire military helicopters.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said last night that the government welcomed any positive development in security co-operation between East Timor and Indonesia.

"Australia has an unwavering commitment to the long-term security and prosperity of East Timor," Mr Smith said. Australia had close defence co-operation with East Timor in areas including engineering, maritime security, logistics, financial management, communication and English-language training.

East Timor has gone to diverse sources for its military equipment and has patrol boats from Portugal, South Korea and China.

The executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, retired major general Peter Abigail, said that the new East Timorese defence link with Indonesia was a very positive move.

It made a lot of sense for Australia, Indonesia and East Timor to have a strong collective relationship and good relations with one another, Major General Abigail said.

He said that Australia would remain very deeply involved in training the East Timorese forces and advising the Dili government.

Clinton Fernandes, a lecturer at the Australian Defence Force Academy, said East Timor clearly wanted to improve relations with a powerful neighbour.

"East Timor is diversifying its contacts in the region and clearly wants good relations with them all," Dr Fernandes said.

(The Australian)

06 April 2011

Two Shanghai class patrol boats of the Timor Leste Navy (photo : TravellersPoint)

DILI, (Xinhua) -- The Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) maritime officers have held a joint training with the U.S., Australian and New Zealand forces to share their experiences, Televizaun Timor-Leste reported Tuesday.

F-FDTL Commander Major General Taur Matan Ruak said that the training was important for the Maritime Force of F-FDTL officers as they will gain new experience during the training.

"This is a great opportunity for you to learn new things during the training to improve your skills, so that you can carry out your work effectively. What we demand most is training, training and training. There is nothing better than knowledge and intelligence,"General Ruak said.

He added that the training is positive and is part of improving skills of the 31 officers of F-FDTL.

(Xinhua)