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Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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Highlights   

1st Superior Officer Promotion Course Beginning of the postgraduate program in Political and Military Studies Opinion articles by Rear Admiral Silva Ribeiro and Professor Dr. Luís Amado

Opening ceremony of the academic year Within the development of the Activities Plan for 2013/14 the NDI has organized on 29th May the Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year 20132014, as well as the Inaugural Conference.

Editorial With my swearing, on 3rd May, 2012, as Director of the National Defense Institute (NDI), began an innovative phase in the way the State of Timor-Leste faces issues related to defense and national sovereignty. It is now intended to involve all the quadrants of the society and make the Timorese themselves develop the issues that are fundamental to their future, such as those relating to the defense of the Nation independence.

The activities carried through and foreseen for the current year are in line with the priorities. Presently, there are still shortages in human, financial, material and facilities resources, difficulties that will certainly be surpassed with the support and guidance of the governing Ministry. From our side, we will continue to do everything to fulfill our mission, in favor of the objectives of the Timor-Leste national interests.

The year of 2013 was inevitably marked by the impact of the change generated by the reorganization and reorientation of the National Defense Institute, configuring the Institute as a higher education institution on National Defense, training and reflection on national issues.

Our values will prevail and superimpose to the adversities and eventual constraints and difficulties, natural in organizations in the initial development stage. And these constitute in the present, and I am certain, in the future, our motivation.

Donaciano Gomes, NDI Director

Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

Deputy Prime Minister Fernando La Sama de Araújo

Deputy Prime Minister, Fernando La Sama de Araújo presided over the ceremony and during the event a presentation was made on the Superior Officer Promotion Course (CPOS), which includes a postgraduate program in Military and Political Studies, by the Course Director, Major Eng. Arlindo Domingues, from the IESM. Inaugural Conference The NDI started its series of conferences under the theme "The Armed Forces and the National Development - Decentralization and Local Government". During this event it was discussed the role of the military in the national development and the decentralization and local power, organized in four important panels to understand, reflect about and discuss the dynamics underway in Timor-Leste and how the State can interact with the society.

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Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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Postgraduate program in Political and Military Studies in partnership with ISCSP Professor Heitor Romana and Professor Manuel Meirinho from ISCSP in the CPOS classroom, in the National Defense Institute

Integrated in the Superior Officer Promotion Course, the postgraduate program in Political and Military Studies started in July, and it is the result of a cooperation partnership established with the Superior Institute of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP) of Portugal.

senior staff from the Secretary of State for Defense, the Institute of Diplomatic Studies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation) and from the National Defense Institute.

The course aims to enhance scientific and pedagogically the plan of the first CPOS and will last for three months. Is being taught in an intensive regime and will enable students to establish a connection with the university and the consequent inclusion in the academia.

This partnership with ISCSP is part of the NDI strategy for the implementation, development and consolidation of the Institute.

Thus, the students who have a university degree, and that performed well in the postgraduate program, may pursue studies at master’s level.

Besides the nine CPOS students, the postgraduate program also counts with the participation of

Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

Protocols and Partnerships

The institution signed other cooperation protocols with Portuguese and Timorese institutions. In the NDI website you can find more information about the signed protocols.

Likewise, the NDI also intends to strengthen its relations with the ASEAN and the technicalmilitary cooperation with countries of the CPLP.

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Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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Beginning of the 1st Superior Officer Promotion Course The start of the first CPOS, that integrates a postgraduate program in Political and Military Studies, marks the first step to the fulfillment of one of the NDI strategic objectives in becoming a national defense university of excellence.

The CPOS has the duration of 36 academic weeks and is taught on an exclusive basis. Its goal is to update and standardize the knowledge of F-FDTL officers, to consolidate team spirit, and to provide the officers with the rank of Captain or First Lieutenant the accomplishment of a special condition for the promotion to the next rank.

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importance of F-FDTL towards the civil society in Timor-Leste and strengthen the relationship between them by conducting a social project named "The FFDTL and the Civil Society�.

With this career progression course NDI pretends to qualify senior officers and develop the national strategic thinking.

Awarding of the Portuguese Language Diplomas The Portuguese Language Course is one of the step stones of the CPOS and aims to prepare and broad the communication skills of the students in this language.

CPOS students with the course director, Major Arlindo Domingues, from IESM

The course is taught by the Joint Command and Staff College (IESM), Portugal, and besides the component purely military it also aims to impart knowledge about the national and international context, in terms of political, strategic, economic, social and cultural matters, including knowledge domains that require the analysis and understanding of phenomena outside the military institution.

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2 Lieutenant Daniel Neto, professor of Portuguese, during the awarding of the diplomas

The diplomas were awarded at a ceremony held at the NDI, attended by several personalities from the Timorese government and the diplomatic corps in Timor-Leste. The best student of the course received a special award given by Professor Hector Romana.

Another objective of the course is to highlight the

Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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On the right path

By Luís Amado

I’m back to Timor-Leste, for the sixth time, if I’m not mistaken, since I came here for the first time in September 1999, a few weeks after the referendum that opened the doors of independence to TimorLeste. On that day I saw Dili in flames, in war scenery, when the INTERFET troops were trying to control the groups that were setting fire to houses and terrifying the populations. This visit, only of a few hours, helped me to understand the difficulties of the reconstruction process and the huge effort that would have to be made, by the international community and by the Timorese, to make TimorLeste reborn from the ashes. Therefore, because of what I saw that day, I was never surprised with the incidents along the way, some very serious, or with the difficulties of a political process necessarily difficult and complex, if one considers the start point.

It needed to rebuild everything, literally from scratch, and this is what I saw in the several visits I did as member of the Portuguese government. A people determined to make its dream of independence a reality.

The satisfaction I felt in this return is bigger, because I had the opportunity to see Timor-Leste to grow as a country, but now without the supervision of the United Nations. For the first time, the Timorese are totally responsible for their destiny and, contrary to what many feared, its democratic institutions know how to deal with the situation. I have found a country politically stable, without significant security issues, with a growing economy and giving signs of power, in the short term, to respond to the expectations of the population.

Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

Professor Dr. Luís Amado, who taught one of the subjects of the postgraduate program in Political and Military Studies, with the Director of the NDI, Captain (N) Donaciano Gomes

On the other hand, after a little bit more than a decade of independence, the country knew how to properly define its position in the global geopolitics. It stabilized its bilateral relations with its main neighbors, which allow it to take advantage of the economic dynamism of the region. At the same time, it started its approach to ASEAN, assuring on the long term its membership to one of the most important organizations in Asia and promoting the fast integration of its economy in one of the most dynamic regions of the global economy. It also co-chairs the g7+, an association of countries that try to recover from conflict situations.

Finally, next year it will chair the CPLP, an organization that provides some references of identity essential for its own process of national affirmation, giving it, at the same time, a depth relationship with the other nations of Europe, Africa and South America.

Timor-Leste is on the right path.

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Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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National Defense Institute Day celebrated with a tribute to Commandant Konis Santana The NDI Day was celebrated for the first time this year, on 30th August, the day when the Referendum is also remembered, and it was commemorated with a visit to the Heroes Garden, in Metinaro, where a tribute was paid to Commandant Konis Santana.

The ceremony, which was attended by the CPOS students, NDI staff, the Secretary of State for Defense Dr. Júlio Tomás Pinto, the Ambassador Eng. Hernâni Coelho and the President of the Veterans Association, José Sequeira “Somotxo”, counted also with the participation of Rear Admiral Silva Ribeiro, who maintained a close relationship with Konis Santana for two years during the resistance period.

information between both became a weekly occurrence.

“I have developed to Konis Santana a deep respect that one can only have to the great men, the great militaries and the great leaders”, he said, “and it is that respect and admiration that I had yet to close in my life, and I wanted to come here today to end my mourning for the death of a friend”.

Although he had been in Timor-Leste before, the Rear Admiral had not yet had the opportunity to pay his last respects to Commandant Konis Santana by whom he had a friendship.

NDI Director Captain (N) Donaciano Gomes, Rear Admiral Silva Ribeiro, Ambassador Eng. Hernâni Coelho, President of the Veterans Association José Sequeira and Secretary of State Dr. Júlio Tomás Pinto, in the tomb of Commandant Konis Santana laying flowers crowns

The contact between both began in 1996 and was made possible by the satellite phones the resistance was using, which had been obtained with the support from Portugal.

Rear Admiral Silva Ribeiro was personally involved in this effort and as soon as the resistance started to have satellite communications, the exchange of

Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

Taking advantage of this visit to Timor-Leste to teach two subjects in the postgraduate program in Political and Military Studies, Rear Admiral Silva Ribeiro was eager to visit the tomb of Konis Santana, where he delivered an emotional speech.

“I came here with great emotion and respect to pay a tribute to this great fighter for the freedom of Timor-Leste”, he said. During the years they maintained contact “I came to realize how a great man he was, a great personality and a great fighter for his country Timor-Leste, and I gained a deep respect and admiration for him”.

The remains of Nino Konis Santana were transferred to the Heroes Garden on 20th December, 2012, after obtaining permission from the family.

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Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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The strategic importance of the sea

By Ant贸nio Silva Ribeiro

In the past, the sea was associated with the abundance of resources and the ability to resist to the abuses of the humankind. However, during the twentieth century, the impacts of human activities have raised concerns about the need to govern, keeping the balance between public and private interests, as well as meeting the needs of the present without compromising those of future generations.

To meet these demands, the government of any country will greatly benefit if it considers the strategic importance of the sea, translated by a number of cultural, diplomatic, economic, environmental and security challenges, which it is important to characterize.

In the case of Timor-Leste, the cultural challenges are linked to the development of activities and the maritime intangible heritage, essential to differentiate the way of life of the Timorese, thereby strengthening their national identity.

The diplomatic challenges are relate to the importance of scientific knowledge and technological capabilities, as well as with the affirmation of the State authority in the sea, to strengthen Timor-Leste credibility in the negotiations on the delimitation of maritime areas.

The economic challenges show the need to ensure the sustainable exploitation of living and non-living resources, so that the potential of the Timor-Leste sea can become an active factor of national progress.

The environmental challenges highlight the usefulness of regulation on maritime activities and the strengthening of the monitoring, supervision

Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

Rear Admiral Ant贸nio Silva Ribeiro during the visit to the Heroes Garden, at the National Defense Institute Day, on 30th August, where he paid tribute to Commandant Konis Santana

and control of the Timor-Leste sea, to ensure the quality of the water and of the natural resources.

The security challenges call for an articulated planning concerning the acquisitions and the use of maritime capabilities between different departments with responsibilities in the sea, which is essential to safeguard the efficient use of Timor-Leste human and material resources.

In these circumstances, it is most useful to consider the challenges that, for translating the strategic importance of the sea, within the governance framework, contribute to strengthen the identity, the credibility, the progress, the quality and the maritime efficiency of Timor-Leste.

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Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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“The USA are committed to amplify the voice of this small country in the region” On 24th June, Vice Admiral Scott H. Swift, at the time Commander of the United States 7th Fleet, gave a lecture at the National Defense Institute as part of the CPOS and reiterated USA support to Timor-Leste.

During his speech, entitled "Regional Dynamics of Security," the Vice Admiral said that the National Defense Institute is a modern entity dedicated to the functions of preparing and training future staff.

The event was attended by the United States Ambassador Judith Fergin, and Vice Admiral said to be proud of the longstanding and continuing partnership with Timor-Leste and reiterated the USA support to this "young nation”.

Vice Admiral Scott H. Swift with the U.S. Ambassador, the Director of the NDI and CPOS students

every success to the USA Ambassador Judith Fergin on her new appointment and congratulates her for the conclusion of her mandate in Timor-Leste crowned with success in the area of USA - F-FDTL technicalmilitary cooperation and appreciates all the support given to the development of the NDI.

The National Defense Institute management wishes

Timor Telecom sponsors education material In the scope of the cooperation partnership established with Timor Telecom, it was awarded to CPOS students a set of equipment with the purpose of improving the process of teaching and learning.

Agenda: 

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The equipment sponsored by Timor Telecom included a mobile phone with SIM card and a 3G pen.

The NDI Director urged the students to take advantage of this "unique opportunity" for career advancement and use the equipment for the successful completion of the CPOS.

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18th - 27th October: Internship of NDI-TL staff members at the NDI-PT, in the areas of ICT, Finance and Research 1st - 8th November: Visit of the NDI Director to the War College, in Brazil 11th - 14th November: NDI participation in the 17th Asean Regional Forum Heads of Defense Universities/Colleges/Institutions Meeting, in Brunei Darussalam January 2014: Study visit of the CPOS and postgraduate program students to Portugal and awarding of postgraduate program diplomas

NATIONAL DEFENSE INSTITUTE Palácio do Governo, Building # 2, 3rd floor PO Box 257, Dili, Timor-Leste Tel.: +670 3310376; E-mails: idn@idn.tl, rdtlndi@gmail.com; Website: www.idn.tl Newsletter September 2013 Issue 1

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