Díli, 27 February 2026 –Members of the F-FDTL Military Police have completed a specialized five-day training program aimed at strengthening their capacity to uphold human rights standards during security operations. The course, held from February 23 to 27 at the Military Police meeting room in Quintal Kiik, brought together 22 participants, 3 women and 19 men in a collaborative initiative by the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) and the UN Human Rights Advisory Unit (UADU).
Throughout the training, facilitators focused on the legal frameworks governing the use of force and the absolute prohibition of torture, drawing upon both national legislation and international conventions ratified by Timor-Leste. In his address at the opening of the course, the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan,” stressed that while military personnel operate within a chain of command, individual legal responsibility cannot be delegated. “For our actions in the field, when it comes to legal matters, we must answer for them ourselves, not our superiors.” he stated. “Superiors answer administratively, politically, and morally, but when a crime is committed, we ourselves must answer in court.”
The Ombudsman further contextualized the training within the PDHJ’s broader mandate to oversee security entities, including the F-FDTL, and to investigate complaints from the public. He reminded participants that Timor-Leste’s ratification of key UN conventions, including the Convention against Torture, imposes clear obligations on all public authorities. “The use of force is necessary when there is no cooperation with security entities, but once a suspect is neutralized or arrested, they cannot be subjected to torture,” Guterres explained. “Once arrested, beating is considered a violation of human rights.” He urged the personnel to view the knowledge gained as a tool to honour their history and maintain their bond with the community, ensuring they “do not become the enemies of the people.”
The training saw reaffirmations of support from international partners and the F-FDTL leadership. The Head of the UN Human Rights Advisory Unit in Timor-Leste, Raja Azwa Petra, emphasized the critical role of the Military Police as a primary law enforcement body. He expressed hope that the participants would now be equipped to apply the principles discussed, safeguarding citizens’ rights as enshrined in the constitution. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Mateus de Jesus called on the 25 trainees to integrate the lessons learned into their daily conduct, framing it as essential to the institution’s development. “The F-FDTL has a moral and legal duty to ensure that the duties performed must respect human dignity,” he said. “This is the only way for us to become a modernized and professional force because it has the full trust of our citizens.”
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