Hera, 8 May 2026 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, in cooperation with the FALINTIL-Força de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) Naval Component and the UN Human Rights Advisory Unit, has successfully held a week-long human rights training for 21 naval personnel at Hera, comprising 3 women and 18 men, from May 4 to 8, 2026.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Ombudsman underlined Article 146 of the Timor-Leste Constitution, which defines the Defence Force’s responsibility to guarantee national independence, territorial integrity, and the freedom and security of the populations against any aggression or external threat, while remaining non-partisan and obedient to the sovereign organs.
The Ombudsman stressed that beyond technical abilities, defence personnel need communication skills to interact effectively with communities during operations. “Human rights training like this plays an essential role in equipping our defence force with knowledge that helps them during operations,” he said.
Noting that discipline is the power that leads the military, he added: “One important thing when dealing with community is respect for human rights. You are agents of human rights and discipline.”
The Ombudsman reiterated PDHJ’s constitutional role under Article 27, stating that the PNTL, Defence Force, and prison guards are clearly mandated in the PDHJ statute, which is why the institution continuously conducts human rights training for them.
He closed by urging the personnel to bring alive the spirit of FALINTIL in their daily tasks: “FALINTIL is the institutional memory to love the citizens, protect them, and continuously consider them as water and the army as fish. If no water, then the fish dies.”
The five-day training was closed by the Deputy Ombudsman for Human Rights, Maria Marília da Costa, in the presence of the Second Commander of the Naval Component, Captain Frigate Graduated Nicolau Sousa Guterres, and the UN Senior Human Rights Advisor, Raja Azwan Petra.
She expressed pride in the 21 trainees, who are now ready to continue serving the nation. “The 21st-century soldier’s weapon is discipline, their ammunition is knowledge, and their ultimate strength is respect for the people,” she said.
She highlighted three lessons: First, the duty of F-FDTL is sacred, as the Constitution gives the mission to guarantee independence, territorial integrity, and security. Second, human rights are not obstacles to the mission — the Law of Armed Conflict states that respecting human rights makes the mission stronger. Third, the military is the image of the State.
“When the people of Ataúro see an F-FDTL ship approaching, they see your uniform, your behavior. If you treat people with respect, the people will say: ‘This is our force. These are our brothers,” she told the naval personnel.
She left a challenge: “The certificate you receive today is not the end. It is the beginning of becoming agents of change. PDHJ’s doors remain open for continuous cooperation. Together we will build an F-FDTL that the people trust, the nation is proud of, and the world respects.”
This post is also available in: Tetun