Military of East Timor

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Military of East Timor
from the CIA World Factbook 2002

1 Military branches
- 1.1 Army
  - 1.1.1 2006 crisis
- 1.2 Navy
2 Statistics
3 References
4 See also

[edit] Military branches

The Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste (Tetum: Forcas Defensa Timor Lorosae English: Timor Leste Defense Force) or FALINTIL-FDTL (often F-FDTL) comprises an Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve personnel over the next five years. The forces were reconstituted from the national liberation movement guerrilla army known as FALINTIL (Portuguese acronym for Armed Forces for the Liberation of East Timor). FALINTIL officially became F-FDTL on February 1, 2001. Few soldiers from the insurgency remain in the forces due to the narrow age requirement.(La’o Hamutuk Bulletin 2005)

While F-FDTL has no formal police functions, it has taken on a policing role, particularly during an incident in the Atsabe sub-district of the Ermera District in January 2003.(Amnesty International 2003) Conversely, the National Police (Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) have been involved in border defense operations near the western border.

[edit] Army

The land force of the F-FDTL consists of two light infantry battalions, each with an authorised strength of between 600 and 650 personnel. This force was predominantly trained by the Australian and Portuguese militaries. Although small in number, the guerrilla tactics employed by the force, prior to the Indonesian military departing in 1999, were extremely effective against overwhelming numbers on the Indonesian side. Each battalion has three rifle companies, a support company and an HQ company.

The 1st Battalion was initially manned by veterans of the pre-independence guerrilla force and is based at Baucau, with a contingent in the seaside coastline village of Laga. The 2nd Battalion is manned largely by new recruits, and is at Nicolau Lobato Training Centre, near Metinaro.

Logistics and service support is provided through Headquarters F-FDTL in Dili. There is also a Military Police Company, which as been in the center of the recent unrest (May 2006). Major Alfredo Reinado, is one of the most important faces of the rebels. The main service rifle of the F-FDTL is the M16A2, although both the HK 33E (donated by Malaysia) and FN FNC can also be found. The FN M249 used in the squad automatic weapon role and the service pistol is the .45 M1911A1.

[edit] 2006 crisis

Main article: 2006 East Timor crisis

In late February 2006, it was reported that over one quarter of Army personnel had quit in the last few weeks in protest over conditions and promotion rules. (ABC) 591 soldiers were dismissed for desertion the following month, and on Sunday 26 March 2006 some soldiers looted shops in Dili and threw stones at their opponents. (Radio NZ) More violence developed on 28 April 2006 from a protest march in support of the soldiers. Two people were killed and 34 injured. (Radio Australia)

Violence continued to escalate in May 2006. Gun battle in Dili on May 24 led to at least two deaths and 8 injuries [1], prompting President Xanana Gusmão to call for international intervention. Australia, Portugal, Malaysia and New Zealand quickly responded and pledged to send in troops to help maintain order. [2], [3]

[edit] Navy

The navy consists of a total of 65 personnel and two Albatroz class patrol vessels, donated by the Portuguese Navy, each ship is armed with a single 20mm Oerlikon cannon: