Increasing Military Cooperation between Timor-Leste and Indonesia
The main purpose of Major General, Taur Matan Ruak’s visit to Indonesia in May, was to increase the military cooperation bonds between both FALINTIL-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) and Tentara Nasional Indonésia (TNI- National Army).
Several defence and military issues were discussed, especially the maritime security cooperation, military training (Sesco, Lemhanas) and border control cooperation between TNI and F-FDTL military troops, particularly in the Tunubibi and Tilomar posts surveyed by F-FDTL.
In regards to Maritime areas, Indonesia will provide the opportunity for Navy Officers from Timor-Leste’s Naval Component to deepen their knowledge by attending SESCOAL (Naval Component Command School) as well as a higher-level military training at SESKO and LEMHANAS, reserved strictly for officers ranked as Majors, Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels.
The F-FDTL delegation, that comprised of the Chief State General, the Land Component Commander and the Naval Component Deputy Commander, met with Panglima TNI, General Djoko Santoso, three Indonesian Chief State Generals (Army, Navy and Air forces), the Indonesian Defence Minister, Mr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro, and with the Indonesian Academy Commander, Major General TNI Mr. Nono Sampono.
Throughout this one-week visit – which emerged from General TNI Djoko Santoso’s visit to Timor-Leste in September 2009 – there was yet the opportunity to visit Jakartas’ Cathedral, the National Monument (Monas) and the Purna Bakti Museum.
