DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
ADDRESS
BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRIME MINISTER AND
MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND SECURITY
KAY RALA XANANA GUSMÃO
ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL BANNERS TO THE F-FDTL
6 October 2009
Naval Base of Hera
Your Excellency the Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Júlio Tomás Pinto,
Your Excellency the Chief of the Defence Force, Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak,
Your Excellency the Commander of the Naval Component, Commander Pedro
Klamar Fuik,
Distinguished guests,
Officers, NCOs and soldiers of the F-FDTL,
The Armed Forces represent the last defender of territorial integrity and
national sovereignty, and as such the State must provide them with the essential
resources that enable the Armed Forces to meet their mission in full.
To neglect providing such human and material resources would be tantamount
to weakening the Nation, as it would be left vulnerable and at the mercy of
those seeking to deprive it of its wealth.
Therefore, this Government that I am honoured to lead has been tireless in reorganising,
re-equipping and modernising the F-FDTL, so as to provide it with
the operational capability to be able to defend, if needed, the national
independence that we struggled so much to achieve.
One area where the State has been vulnerable is in regard to costal patrolling,
particularly within the Exclusive Economic Zone, which is subject to crimes
ranging from illegal fishing to drug trafficking, smuggling and even human
trafficking.
This situation has arisen because of a lack of naval strength to patrol the
coastal area of our country and in particular the southern coast which has been
most affected by the criminal activities of groups that so far have been acting
with relative impunity.
Indeed, the two Oecussi Class patrol boats that the F-FDTL Naval Component
currently operates, and which were provided by Portugal within the scope of
our bilateral cooperation, cannot protect the Timorese geographic territory,
which is why the Government has taken measures that are necessary in order to
address this vulnerability.
And so the Government is acquiring from the People’s Republic of China two
Shangai III Class patrol boats, which will have a range of 700 miles and be
capable of operating for extended periods in high seas with the need for land
support.
With these boats we will finally be able to patrol all our coastal area and ensure
the defence of our maritime wealth as well as prevent criminal groups from
entering the Country through our maritime borders.
Therefore, today’s ceremony is particularly symbolic.
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Presenting the National
Banners to the Garrisons that will be responsible for operating the patrol boats,
which should be available to us within the first months of 2010, represents an
important step in the modernisation of our Armed Forces.
Next year, we are going also start the construction of a new modern Naval
Base here in Hera.
On October 9 these two Garrisons, which are constituted by 36 soldiers from
the Naval Component, will depart for China to receive training for three
months. In China the soldiers will receive ‘hands-on’ training which will enable
them to make the most of what these two patrol boats can offer.
I urge our seamen to apply yourselves with the utmost dedication and
determination during the following months, so that the time they are spending
now studying does not prove to be lost time.
The knowledge that you will acquire in China will be essential to the success of
the fight we will bring to those who seek to challenge the authority of the State
by availing themselves of the weaknesses in our borders along the coast.
Be proud of the uniform that you wear, respect the trust that we have placed in
you and abstain from committing any acts that might tarnish the name of your
Fatherland.
May God be with you in this next journey.
Thank you very much!
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
6 October 2009
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