Breaking News
Ataúro, September 12, 2025
The Chief of the General Staff of the FALINTIL-Timor-Leste Defense Forces (F-FDTL), Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek, accompanied by the Second Commander of the Naval Component, Frigate Captain Guido Guterres, and Sub-Major for Logistics Grigorio da Costa, visited the FALINTIL-FDTL outpost in Ataúro.
The purpose of the visit to the F-FDTL outpost in Ataúro is to gain a firsthand understanding of the military's situation and their daily work in Ataúro, while those responsible for the Marine Command Corps of the F-FDTL Naval Component are also in Ataúro. During the visit, the Chief of the General Staff of the F-FDTL, Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek, was received directly by the President of the Ataúro Authority, Mr. Mateus Belo, and immediately continued meetings with the President of the Authority and the entire staff.
After the meeting, the Chief of the General Staff of the F-FDTL, Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek, and the entire team continued visiting the villages to assess the conditions in Ataúru.
F-FDTL Social Communication
Izidor Lopes
Malaysia, September 9-12, 2025
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the FALINTIL - Timor-Leste Defense Forces (F-FDTL), Major General Calisto Santos "Coliati," representing His Excellency Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek, participated in the ASEAN Chiefs of Staff Meeting.
Major General Coliati participated in the 22nd ASEAN Chiefs of Staff Meeting (ACDFM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September 9-12, 2025.
The high-level regional security forum brought together the Chiefs of Staff of ASEAN member states, including Timor-Leste, to exchange perspectives and visions on multilateral cooperation to address regional security challenges. In his remarks, Major General Coliati stated that, as an observer state, Timor-Leste recognizes with particular interest ASEAN's demonstrated capacity for conflict resolution, as evidenced by the recent mediation of the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. This achievement represents a substantial advancement in the regional security architecture, effectively balancing the principle of non-interference with a pragmatic commitment to regional stability.
He emphasized that the F-FDTL remains dedicated and strives to learn from and work closely with ASEAN counterparts to strengthen regional resilience in the face of rapidly evolving security challenges.
Major General Coliati also had the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with General Tan Sri HJ Mohd Nizam Bin HJ Jaffar, Chief of Defence Force of the Malaysian Armed Forces, as host of the ACDFM, as well as with General Vong Pisen of Cambodia. Meanwhile, next year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will host the 23rd ACDFM in Manila in May 2026.
F-FDTL Media
Dili, September 12, 2025
Around 50 members of the FALINTIL-East Timor Defense Force (F-FDTL), from Headquarters, participated today at 6:00 a.m. in a forced march on foot, covering a distance of seven (7) kilometers, departing from the Tibar area, at the Bazartete Administrative Post, in the municipality of Likisa, Paulo II, Três Mares.
This year's forced march will take place in the capital, Dili, with the possibility of leaving Dili upon orders from Command, stated the Chief of the Finance Division of the FALINTIL-East Timor Defense Force (F-FDTL), Infantry Major Domingos Marques da Costa Freitas. He added that the objective of this march is included in the F-FDTL Command's annual matrix plan. "This forced march aims to maintain the physical strength of the forces and maintain the operational health of the force," he said. The forced march, which the F-FDTL Command began in the Tibar area and ended in the João Paulo II area, involved the participation of approximately 50 members.
"This exercise is divided into two parts: a forced march and a running march. The forced march, according to the matrix, occurs every three months.
Members of the F-FDTL Headquarters participated in the Forced March, as well as auxiliaries from the Components and Units currently serving at the F-FDTL Headquarters.
F-FDTL Media
Nhoy Borges
Raeoa, September 10, 2025
FALINTIL - The Timor-Leste Defense Forces (F-FDTL), together with the Ministry of Defense, met with the President of RAEOA, Mr. Regio da Cruz Salu, after distributing basic necessities to priests, including children from the Topu Honis Kutete Mahata Orphanage. At the same location, the Representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Valerio Valente, as well as the Chief of the Department of Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC), said: "Since the Indonesian invasion, the F-FDTL, our heroes and veterans, founded FALINTIL, and their motto is 'Fish and People.' FALINTIL. This is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of FALINTIL's existence. The F-FDTL comes here to connect with our children, because they are responsible for moving the country forward. Because this is our goal. The F-FDTL must connect with our children, because they are responsible for moving the country forward.
Currently, our children live in Ofornatu Topu Honis, so they feel that they are not alone, but rather united with the F-FDTL. The support we offer today is provided through basic food supplies and how to use these supplies for their daily needs. Food received directly from Ms. Imelda Liliana Tarung of the Topu Honis Orphanage, located in Bairu, Mahata, Kutete District, Pante Makasar Administrative Post, Oecusse Ambeno Special Administrative Region.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Topu Honis Orphanage, Ms. Imelda Liliana Tarung, said: "I feel happy, sad, and surprised because finally the Topu Honis Orphanage is not alone. We feel happy, but also a mixture of sadness, because we at the Kutete Mahata Orphanage are not alone, but we have received a visit from the F-FDTL, which makes us very happy. We need help, not just for ourselves, and we ask that this support not be the beginning and end for us, but that this support may continue. We thank the F-FDTL Command for sending a team to visit us and help us with food," she said.
F-FDTL Media
Nhoy Borges
Headquarters, September 11, 2025
The Chief of General Staff of the FALINTIL (Timor-Leste Defense Force) met today with the General Commander of the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL), Commissioner General of Police, Henrique da Costa, and with the Deputy General Commander of Police, Commissioner Pedro Belo. The meeting took place at the F-FDTL Headquarters in Fatuhada, Dili.
F-FDTL Media
2º Sergeant Carceres
Tasi Tolu, September 10, 2025
The FALINTIL (East Timor Defense Force) Command participated in the Thanksgiving Mass for the one-year visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Timor-Leste.
The Thanksgiving Mass was presided over by Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva.
F-FDTL Media
Evaristo das Dores
- CEMGFA receives a visit from the Technical Director of AACTL, IP, at Headquarters
- The F-FDTL supports basic necessities in Ermera, Likisa, Bobonaro, and Ataúro for distribution to orphanages and people with disabilities
- The Ministry of Defense, through the F-FDTL, supports an orphanage school in commemoration of the FALINTIL's 50th anniversary
- Four F-FDTL soldiers bid farewell to the CEMGFA before studying in China
