We should all understand that Liberation
of the Fatherland is only half the objective of independence.
After independence, Liberation of the
People constitutes the other half of the objective of independence.
(Xanana Gusmão, 1999)
After the Timorese voted for independence,
the UN Security Council decided to send an international military intervention
force to the territory. It did not, however, give the UN force a clearly
defined mandate, and its mission was subsequently interpreted in different
ways. This resulted in the Timorese armed resistance fighters being marginalised,
and delays in decision-making about the territory’s future defence forces.
Eventually, good sense prevailed, and the FALINTIL were called upon to
form the core of the new armed forces.
The FALINTIL were formed on 20 August 1975
as the armed wing of FRETILIN, at the time of
the civil war. Since the outset of Indonesian military occupation in December
1975, FALINTIL led military operations against the invading army from bases
set up in the mountains of East Timor. In 1987, under the command of Xanana
Gusmão, the guerrilla army reorganised, became non-partisan, and
was the very symbol of popular struggle, not only for FRETILIN but of all
pro-independence political tendencies. When the 5 May 1999 agreements
were reached, the guerrillas halted their operations after 24 years of
battling against the oppressor. In view of the presence of armed groups,
both pro-autonomy (militias) and pro-independence (FALINTIL), UNAMET (UN
mission responsible for overseeing the popular consultation) set up a Peace
and Stability Commission, through which the right conditions for an intimidation-free
electoral process could be created. On 18 June in Jakarta, a code of conduct,
to which both sides were to adhere during and after the consultation process,
was signed. Under the terms of the code, armed forces were committed to
assemble in designated areas and surrender weapons before the popular consultation.
FALINTIL decided, unilaterally, to send its troops to cantonment bases
in four areas of the territory, but refused to surrender their weapons
until the Indonesian military contingent was smaller and remaining Indonesian
soldiers were confined to barracks in the territory. As the registration
phase began, guerrilla fighters assembled in the cantonment points, as
was verified by military observers. In spite of all the provocation to
which they were subjected by the Indonesian military and militias during
the post-referendum period, the FALINTIL, in an admirable display of discipline,
rallied to the no retaliation appeal from their Commander-in-Chief, Xanana
Gusmão, and remained in the cantonments, which were later reduced
to Aileu, until the FALINTIL’s dissolution and integration in the East
Timor Defence Force in February 2001.
FALINTIL and INTERFET: an undefined mandate
1. Resolution 1272, 25 October, calls on UNTAET to “establish security and maintain peace and order throughout the territory of East Timor”, adding nothing further.
2. The ambiguity of the mandate led to
different interpretations of Resolution 1272: “The policy is that we disarm
any East Timorese who are not in TNI [Indonesian armed forces]…we disarm
them all”; Xanana reacted by saying that the FALINTIL should not be regarded
as “a group of bandits”. “Disarming people of any political or military
persuasion in East Timor is part of INTERFET’s mandate”, said its spokesman,
Colonel Duncan Lewis; “What the Security Council meeting in New York discussed
was the killings, the destruction of East Timor by the Indonesian army
and the militias. (...) It did not adopt a resolution to disarm FALINTIL”,
replied José Ramos Horta. With regard to protecting the East
Timorese people from pro-Indonesia militias, the Colonel said it was: “clearly
the responsibility of INTERFET”.
Ramos Horta agreed, but pointed out that
INTERFET was still not doing so:
“What we propose is that it engages in
dialogue with Xanana Gusmão, the resistance leader, accelerates
the deployment of INTERFET, and the creation of the UN transition authority,
creates a new East Timorese security force, and then, yes, we can talk
about disarmament. (...) If you disarm FALINTIL now, INTERFET will lose
completely the trust of the people of East Timor” (Australian Broadcasting
Corporation, 5-10-99).
3. In November, a group of FALINTIL members was stopped and disarmed by INTERFET in the District of Bobonaro. Xanana Gusmão travelled from Aileu to Dili escorted by FALINTIL rather than his normal INTERFET security escort, as had been agreed. General Cosgrove considered this a “clear violation of policy related to our mandate...” but defused the situation, describing it as a “small incident” (Lusa, 19-11-99).
4. The UN, INTERFET, FALINTIL and Xanana agreed to the disarming of 55 guerrillas and their subsequent integration in a civilian security force that would undertake unarmed protection work in Dili. “This is the first step of an element of FALINTIL that is going to reintegrate into East Timorese society with a good job and we are very pleased that this step has been taken”, said Colonel Mark Kelly, but Xanana made it clear that this was not the solution he wanted for his fighters (Straits Times, 27-11-99). In the views of both Gusmão and Ramos Horta, the FALINTIL should be part of the future defence force: “When the new defence structure of East Timor is defined, they will be the first ones interviewed..” (Lusa, 6-12-99).
5. Some veterans began to return to their families, but Commander Lere insisted that FALINTIL’s aim was to continue to serve the people and, for this reason, they were recruiting younger people. FALINTIL leaders saw the changeover from the peacekeeping force to a UN peacekeeping command as a good opportunity to negotiate a more active role for their forces: “We will propose we have a policing role and we must also be allowed to carry our arms, as we have done for the last 24 years”. The departing INTERFET commander, Gen. Peter Cosgrove, said he was optimistic: “FALINTIL should be honoured and engaged. They deserve respect. (…) The UN can’t just brush them aside. An honourable compromise can be reached.” (Deutsch Press- Agentur, 4-2-00)
· UNTAET/PKF - FALINTIL marginalized in cantonments
6. On 23 February 2000, INTERFET formally transferred command over to the UNTAET/PKF.
7. UNTAET and CNRT hold their first talks
on the future of the FALINTIL.
Vieira de Mello admitted conditions at
their cantonment in Aileu were “ghastly” as, in contrast to the rest of
the population, they were not receiving humanitarian aid. He promised immediate
UN help to improve food supplies and sanitation. (SMH, 16-3-00)
7b FALINTIL field commander Taur Matan
Ruak, [Xanana Gusmão was Commander-in-Chief], pointed out that “INTERFET
turned over its mandate to the PKF” and asked: “Who will PKF turn the mandate
over to?” “One day they will leave, and we must be prepared to keep the
peace” (Asia Week, 17-3-00). The UN, however, maintained that all
irregular forces would have to disarm and disband (item)
7c In view of the security situation and
the legacy of the post-ballot violence, the CNRT decided that a national
defence force was necessary, whether it were an armed police or a French-style
gendarmerie, and that UNTAET’s mandate should, if necessary, be revised
to include such a role for FALINTIL. (SMH, 16-3-00).
7d -Xanana Gusmão wrote to Kofi
Annan outlining the territory’s determination to transform the former guerrilla
force into the nucleus of a future defence force. The letter referred to
a security force that included naval and air components rather than a police
force (Lusa 28-4-00). This shift in position, which caused some surprise
in New York, was the result of a worsening security situation in terms
of militia incursions from the Indonesian side.
8. In what was to be the first official sign that the former guerrilla force might provide the core of a future East Timorese defence force, 4 FALINTIL members were appointed liaison officers in three military sectors and at central command headquarters in Dili. “We cannot be seen to leave East Timor in a total security vacuum”, “They need to be able to start and develop their future security force, and FALINTIL could be the core of this group”, said Col. Nymo, PKF spokesman (SMH, 11-5-00).
9. In a bid to tackle increasing discipline problems among former FALINTIL guerrillas - the result of their marginalisation and lack of prospects for the future - FALINTIL’s leadership adopted a reorganisation plan that included the break-up of Fifth Company (led by Commander Ely Fohorai Boot, also leader of a group called “Holy Family”), and reassignment of its members to four other companies. Some former guerrillas rejected the plan (UNTAET, 31-5-00).
10. An incident involving two FALINTIL members in Dili led to a group of about 60 of them leaving cantonment to seek revenge. Although they had set out unarmed and were intercepted in time by CivPol and PKF, the incident was a sign of the growing discontent and break-down of discipline in the cantonment. As a result, an incident management team was set up, led by the PKF Chief of Operations and comprising representatives from UNTAET’s political affairs, CivPol, FALINTIL and UN Military Observers (UNTAET Daily Briefing, 21-6-00). At the Lisbon Donors’ Conference, Xanana Gusmão warned that the FALINTIL were “almost in a state of revolt”: “If we continue to offer no support for the FALINTIL, relegating them to a subhuman existence, we will all pay a high political and social price” (AP, 22-6-00). Vieira de Mello confirmed, in his address at the UN Security Council meeting that, although the FALINTIL were still disciplined, they were showing signs of growing impatience because they were not working and there was uncertainty about their future (UN Security Council, 27-6-00).
11. “The main problem [affecting FALINTIL members] is that humanitarian organisations have a principle, which is not to assist combatants”, said S. Vieira de Mello. On the other hand, “Security Council resolution 1272 ... does not mention disarming the FALINTIL or demobilising them or transforming them into something new” (ABC, 29-6-00).
· What future for the FALINTIL ?
12. On the 25th anniversary of the FALINTIL,
Xanana stated that the future National Defence Force would adopt a stance
of non-aggression as its core principle, and look into cooperation agreements
with Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and ASEAN member states and with
friendly countries like Portugal, the UK, US, Brazil, and others. Professionalism
and sustainability, he said, were two key factors: professionalism required
military men to abstain from belonging or extending support to political
forces, groups involved in economic activities or any organisation of a
social nature; sustainability was vital because of the characteristics
of a country like Timor, that lacked the economic infrastructures to maintain
the costs of its armed forces (CNRT, 20-8-00).
12b - Vieira de Mello announced that 1,500
FALINTIL members could form the nucleus of the future armed forces, and
that he had received a letter from Kofi Annan in which the UNSG recognised
the “past, present and future” role of the FALINTIL (SMH, 21-8-00).
12c - Although they acknowledged the need
to form a national defence force, the Timorese leadership, particularly
foreign “minister” José Ramos Horta, was insistent that diplomacy
should be their best defence: “(…) more important than an army, we must
develop the closest possible relations with countries in the region” (SMH,
8-6-00).
13. Cross-border attacks by militias were on the increase. The atmosphere of fear in which East Timorese were living, and the PKF’s inability to identify militia groups, exacerbated the FALINTIL veterans’ frustration, as they continued to be confined to the cantonments. “FALINTIL knows the terrain better than anyone else, certainly better than our troops” said Vieira de Mello (AP, 29-8-00). Ramos Horta raised the possibility of FALINTIL members leaving the cantonment areas to seek out militias (SMH, 30-8-00).
14. The number of FALINTIL liaison officers in the PKF increased from 10 to 67, in order to provide support to all districts except Oecussi (UNTAET Daily Briefing, 5-9-00). In view of high levels of militia activity, UNTAET suspended a planned reduction of the military component (UN SC, 20-1-01).
15. Lack of directives from the Security Council on the future security forces of East Timor led the UN to accept a British Government proposal for an independent study. The Centre for Defence Studies of King’s College in London was asked to undertake the study. On 7 July, a team of experts from Germany, South Africa, Mozambique and the US arrived in Dili with a mandate to produce a report within 6 weeks on the future security of the territory (UNTAET Daily Briefing, 5-7-00). The study found that “the FALINTIL feel marginalized” (Far Eastern Economic Review, 21-9-00).
16. The study concluded that there are
three possible options:
1) A force of 3,000-5,000 troops based
on the core of the former resistance, the balance being made up of conscripts
- the option closest to the FALINTIL’s own vision of national defence;
2) A professional regular core of 1,500
men, supported by an equal number of conscripts doing a year of national
service;
3) A force of 3,000 regulars, about half
being former FALINTIL soldiers, and 1,500 volunteer reservists. This was
regarded in the report as being the best option in terms of the territory’s
defence needs and sustainable cost (Jane’s Intelligence Review, 1-11-00)
· The formation of the East Timor Defence Force (ETDF)
17. a - The Transitional Cabinet of East Timor approved Option III of the King’s College study (UNTAET Briefing,12-9-00). A donors’ conference held in Dili, attended by 12 countries, discussed help to be given to East Timor in developing its future defence force. Training recruits for the force should start in January 2001 (UNTAET, web 24-11-00). Portugal and Australia emerged as the major suppliers of weapons, military training and logistics (Inter Press Service, 17-1-01), while Thailand proposed a border village self-defence scheme (Bangkok Post, 16-1-01). Australia would contribute AUS$26 million and provide “specialist training” towards which Canberra would donate AUS$12.5 million over 5 years. Australia would supply 360 M16 assault rifles (AAP, 2-2-01). Basic training would be conducted by Portugal, who agreed to help build up the defence force’s marine element, including military training for naval crews and spares, maintenance and other support for the patrol boats (Inter Press Service, 17-1-01). b - The East Timor Cabinet set up an Office of Defence Force Development (UNTAET, 20-12-00) to operate within ETTA [East Timor Transitional Administration]. It will supervise and coordinate all activities connected with the development of the defence force, as well as with bilateral and multilateral relations (UNTAET, 2-2-01)
18. The National Council (NC, which functions as a provisional mini-parliament) was asked to adopt a regulation that set a timetable for the dissolving of the FALINTIL and the formation of the ETDF. The draft regulation had been approved by the ET Transitional Cabinet on 17 January. At a session in which 18 of its 36 members were present, the NC discussed and adopted the regulation on 29 Janeiro 2001, thus creating the legal basis for the establishment of the ETDF on 1 February. The decision-making process involved was condemned by the National NGO Forum of East Timor, which claimed that the NC had been pressured to adopt the regulation in a very short period of time (UNTAET Daily Briefing, 29-1-01 and NGO Forum, 29-1-01).
19. The new ETDF would consist of two branches: army and navy, having a total of 3,000 members, 1,500 regulars (with a phased approach reach that number over three years) and 1,500 reservists (called up regularly for training). The first battalion will consist of 650 FALINTIL members, who have already been selected (UNTAET, 31-1-01). [600 men for the army and 36 for the navy, according the Taur Matan Ruak, FALINTIL Commander and Commander-in-Chief of the new defence force (BBC, 25-12-00) ].
20. A FALINTIL Veterans’ Association was established by the ETTA [ET Transitional Administration] to be the trustee and depositary of the heritage of FALINTIL (UNTAET Daily Briefing, 31-1-01).
21. On 1 February, FALINTIL was formally dissolved, making way for the East Timor Defence Force (ETDF), at a ceremony during which the FALINTIL flag was lowered and replaced temporarily by the UN flag. Former guerrillas would not automatically become part of the ETDF; they would have to choose to do so and go through a selection process. The Classification and Selection process involved: a medical examination and sensorial tests, psycho-technical tests and interviews. On 28 January, 650 men were selected and recruited from among 1,736 applicants. For the following battalion, the recruitment process would be open to men and women over 18 years (UNTAET, 2-2-01). The dissolution of the FALINTIL was condemned by the OJETIL [youth organisation] as a betrayal of those who had fought for Timorese liberation (Suara Timor Lorosae, 1-2-01).
22. The purpose of the ETDF would be to ensure military defence for people and territory, to stop cross-border incursions by militias and to dissuade aggressors. It could also assist in emergencies and natural disaster situations (idem). Until independence, the territory’s defence and security would be the PKF’s responsibility.
23. Military training, scheduled to commence in January, would start with 200 men. By the end of 2001, 600 members of the ETDF were expected to have received training (Lusa, 22-11-00).
24. FALINTIL Reinsertion Assistance Programme
(FRAP)
· The IOM launched a 1-year programme
designed to reintegrate around 1,050 former FALINTIL guerrillas into civilian
life. The US$108,000 project is being financed by USAID and the World Bank
(IOM, 12-12-00). The FRAP would be administered by IOM in Dili and supported
by IOM district sub-offices in Aileu, Batugade, Suai, Oecussi, Baucau,
Viqueque e Lospalos. A veteran’s liaison officer network would also assist
in the reintegration efforts (Idem, 2-2-01). The IOM expects that 5,250
people (including veteran fighters and relatives) would benefit from the
programme (IOM web, 6-2-01).
· The FRAP consists of 4 phases:
a) Stage I- Cantonment and registration:
identification and verification of guerrillas’ identity, issuance of ID
card and development of a database through gathering socio-economic information,
such as age, education level, qualifications, health and family structure.
The WFP is responsible for food and water distribution and for ensuring
adequate sanitation;
b) Stage II- Discharge and departure.
This includes assembly and arms storage, health screening, pre-discharge
orientation, discharge procedures, and transportation to the communities
of choice. The WFP provides a food package (20kg of canned fish and 5 litres
of oil) for the discharged veterans to return to their communities;
c) Stage III- Reinsertion into the community
and a transitional safety net of US$100 per month for the first 5 months
after discharge to meet basic needs;
d) Stage IV- Reintegration and sustainable
livelihoods. This consists of a training and start-up package that includes
materials necessary for self-sufficiency in crop or livestock farming,
fishing or micro enterprise. The FRAP will also help veterans to
get access to land, vocational training, community assistance and educational
grants.
· Although IOM Dili Chief of Mission
Christopher Gascon acknowledged that retraining the veterans for
income-generating civilian occupations could be difficult, he believed
that the process of reinsertion into their communities would be comparatively
easy: “FALINTIL members command enormous respect in East Timor.(…) They
also have strong family ties in their communities” (idem). This view is
not shared by Brigadier-General Ruak:
“Some have lost their families, some have
not got married because of the fighting and some have nothing at all -
no clothes, no furniture” (AAP, 1-12-00).
· Under stage III of the FRAP,
718 FALINTIL veterans were returned to their communities. Some resented
their exclusion from the new ETDF, but said that, as soldiers, they would
obey orders. Others were happier: Afonso Ximenes, who spent 2 years with
FALINTIL, hoped to return to university, but was worried about older veterans:
“We’re young and can start our lives again. But it will be very difficult
for them”. Veteran Adelino da Costa Tilman, wanted to go back to farming,
the work he left 16 years ago to join FALINTIL: “but that was a long time
ago and everything’s changed” (IOM web, 6-2-01).
· 994 of the 1,093 FRAP participants
have already registered with IOM and have been issued with identity cards,
food packages and the first of five US$100 payments. Participants are mainly
concentrated in Ermera (258), Baucau (181), Viqueque (132) e Lospalos (104).
In the second week of February, the project’s steering committee met for
the first time. It comprises representatives of IOM, World Bank, USAID,
UN Military Observers and PKF, and will oversee the project, which includes
transitional financial support and retraining for the former guerrillas
(IOM Press Briefing, 16-02-01).
Conclusion:
· East Timor’s main guarantee of
security should be its diplomacy. However, in view of the slow pace of
democratic progress in Indonesia, and the strained relationship between
the two countries, international diplomacy should continue to bring pressure
to bear to ensure that a balance is maintained.
· Continuing instability (largely
due to the behaviour of militias, and Armed Forces and Government of Indonesia)
has forced the international community and the Timorese to shift from their
original position that the territory should not have armed forces. By the
end of 2001, only 600 members of the ETDF will have been trained, which
means that the presence of international military and observers will have
to continue, until militias in West Timor are disbanded, disarmed, and
their members brought to trial..
· Maintaining a 3,000-strong defence
force - almost one third of the total number of East Timor’s future civil
servants - will incur considerable expenditure for the new country and
diminish the resources that could be otherwise spent in different areas
of service and administration. International responsibility in the
transition process should not ignore this.
Note: Documents and information relating to this subject have been compiled by the East Timor Observatory in a 50-page thematic Dossier entitled “Defence” Ref: DEF01,compiled between 29-09-1999 and 09-04-2001 . The Dossier and/or further information may be ordered from the East Timor Observatory.
Portuguese:
Observatório
Timor Leste Updated Jan 25
Duas Organizações Não
Governamentais portuguesas, a COMISSÃO PARA OS DIREITOS DO POVO
MAUBERE (CDPM) e o grupo ecuménico A PAZ É POSSÍVEL
EM TIMOR LESTE que, desde o início da década de oitenta,
se solidarizam com a causa do Povo de Timor Leste, tomaram a decisão
de criar o OBSERVATÓRIO TIMOR LESTE. A vocação do
Observatório Timor Leste é, no quadro das recentes alterações
do regime de Jacarta face a Timor Leste, o acompanhamento, a nível
internacional, do processo negocial e, no interior do território,
do inevitável período de transição que se anuncia.
correio electrónico: cdpm@esoterica.pt
URL: http://homepage.esoterica.pt/~cdpm/framep.htm
English:
East
Timor Observatory Updated Jan 25
ETO was set up by two Portuguese NGOs
- the Commission for the Rights of the Maubere People (CDPM) and
the ecumenical group Peace is Possible in East Timor, which
have been involved in East Timor solidarity work since the early eighties.
The aim of the Observatory was to monitor East Timor's transition process,
as well as the negotiating process and its repercussions at international
level, and the developments in the situation inside the territory itself.
E-mail: cdpm@esoterica.pt
Homepage: http://homepage.esoterica.pt/~cdpm/frameI.htm
French:
Observatoire
Timor-Oriental Updated Jan 25
Deux Organisations Non Gouvernementales
portugaises, la ‘Commission pour les Droits du Peuple Maubere’ et l’association
oecuménique
"La Paix est Possible au Timor Oriental", qui se solidarisent avec la cause
du peuple du Timor Oriental depuis le début des années 80,
ont pris la décision de créer un OBSERVATOIRE TIMOR ORIENTAL.
La vocation de cet observatoire est d’accompagner le processus de transition
du Timor Oriental, aussi bien le processus de négociation que ses
répercussions au niveau international et l’évolution de la
situation à l’intérieur du territoire.
courrier électronique: cdpm@esoterica.pt
URL: http://homepage.esoterica.pt/~cdpm/framef.htm