288 members of F-FDTL and PNTL swear not to engage in martial arts organizations
The Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Security, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, attended the swearing-in ceremony of the 288 members of the F-FDTL and PNTL, previously involved in martial arts organizations, which took place on January 13 2015, at the Government Palace. Out of this total 145 had belonged to Setia Hati Persaudaraan Terate (PSHT), 88 to Kera Sakti Ikatan (IKS) and 55 to Korka.
Xanana Gusmão said at the ceremony that this oath arises due to the involvement of some elements of the Defence Forces of Timor-Leste (F- FDTL) and of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) in martial arts organizations.
According to the Prime Minister, the State has created the defence and security forces in order to guarantee the protection of the people and the country, "you are the ones who protect the people, who give security to the people. People trust you as protection and guarantee of their well -being. "
The Prime-Minister also added that the State does not allow the members of the F-FDTL and PNTL to create or to get involved in groups that terrorise the population and incite young people to violence. On the contrary, these elements should behave in a disciplined way in their institutions.
Thus, after taken the oath before the National Flag and the two institutions (F- FDTL and PNTL), it is expected that these elements will not be involved in such activities. The members of the F- FDTL and PNTL must carry out their constitutional duties and, in the future, if an involvement in martial arts organizations is to be proved, they will be sanctioned with the dismissal from the institution.
"I ask you to be exemplary members of PNTL and F-FDTL, because the fight is not over, the fight for the development of our country. We have to be strong to defend this people and this country. Our development is still at the beginning" stated Xanana Gusmão.
Also present in the swearing-in ceremony were the Vice Prime Minister, Fernando La Sama de Araújo, the Chief of General Staff of F-FDTL, Major General Lere Anan Timur, the General Commander of PNTL, Longuinhos Monteiro, members of the Government, officials from the Government Palace and community representatives.
