Sunday, May 31, 2009

Telling Your Staff to Dress Properly

Restless Crowd Control


Sub-Inspector Agostino Gomes, Acting Commander of the UIR (Rapid Intervention Unit) March 2009. Does Snhr Gomes really need to learn how to operate a Steyr semi-automatic rifle augmented with a grenade launcher? Rifle fire and lobbing grenades, are I suppose the best way to tame a restless crowd. UIR soon to become BOP (Public Order Battalion).

BOP Away.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Dakota Indians in Timor?

For all those who have done work with, work for, have some suspicions of, or want their idealism crushed of the UN (or many NGOs or government offices), read on. This is pretty close to accurate:

Something to bear in mind……..

Tribal wisdoms of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, say that 'when you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount'. However, in the UN and a range of other organisations a range of far more advanced strategies are often employed, such as:

Changing riders;

Appointing a committee to study the horse;

Arranging to visit other countries to see how others ride dead horses;

Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included;

Reclassifying the dead horse as 'living impaired';

Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse;

Harnessing several dead horses together to increase the speed;

Providing additional funding and/or training to increase the dead horse's performance;

Doing a productivity study to see if lighter riders would improve the dead horse's performance;

Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less costly, carries lower overhead, and therefore contributes substantially more to the mission of the organization than do some other horses;

Rewriting the expected performance requirements for all horses;

Preparing a workshop with paid attendants on the subject of experience gained in riding dead horses in post war settings;

Preparing a second workshop on environmental hazards caused by horse sh*t, and the advantage on using dead horses which are therefore of no hazard to the environment.

Range Shooting

"Jendral Longuinos"

Range Shooting: The International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Combined Operational Liaison Team host a weapons familiarization, range shoot and informal shooting competition with the East Timor National Police (PNTL) and their United Nations security partners at Metinaro Range.

A high res view hare tok - -
http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opastute/images/gallery/2009/0505/2009
0430adf8115142_112.jpg

Friday, May 29, 2009

Major Mau Kalo Mutters

Three years after Major Alfredo met Lt. Col Falur at Fatu Ahi, Major Mau Kalo of F-FDTL announces it is back up to strength. The above announcement of 579 new recruits brings the strength to 1291, nearly at the pre-crisis level of 1450.

23 Maio 2009 Jornal Nacional Seminario. Grupu Media Nasional.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

That fateful evening

Three years ago this was the scene in Prime Minister Alkatiri's house as he signs the document requesting Australian military intervention in order to restore order in Dili.

The Timorese in this photo appear exhausted. The Australians and the lone Kiwi appear quite content. Notice the Chinese beer?

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Day After the Massacre: UNOTIL 26 May 2006

Manas

"It really is so hot. Please move it over a little bit to your left."

Monday, May 25, 2009

War is Boring

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Fatu Ahi: Three Years Ago Today

Tiru malu iha Fatu Ahi iha loron 23 Maiu 2006

64. Iha loron 22 Maiu, PNTL no F-FDTL hetan informasaun intelijensia katak ofisial sira URP PNTL nian maka fo aten barani no suporte ba violensia lorosae hasoru loromonu iha area Fatu Ahi. Halo planu atu monta postu konjunta ida entre PNTL no F-FDTL. Iha loron 23 Maiu maizemenus 11, karreta rua tula soldadu F-FDTL nain sia husi Primeiru Batallaun iha komandu Tenente Koronel Falur nia okos, to’o iha Fatu Ahi atu hanoru ho PNTL sira. Sira atu halo estudu ida kona ba fatin ne’ebé sira planu halo postu konjunta. Sira para karreta besik Fatu Ahi nia tutun. Maski soldadu sira tun husi karreta, sira hare’e mane balu hatais farda polisia nian iha eskola no ai sira nia kotuk. Mane sira ne’e la’os ofisial PNTL nian ne’ebé sira hein atu ba hasoru; sira maka membru husi grupu Alfredo nian 33
65. Major Reinado ho ninia ema nain 11 to’o dadeersan iha area ne’e, mai husi Aileu iha dadeersan. Sira hamutuk ho ema sivil sira no ofisial URP nain 10 ne’ebé ka’er kilat automatiku. Maizemenus tuku 9.00 dadeersan, jornalista nain rua to’o no hahu halo entrevista gravasaun video ho Major Reinado. Hahu konfrontasaun tiru malu ne’e grava hotu iha filme ne’e. Tiru malu ne’e Major Alfredo maka hahu Maski nia ramata konta to’o 10 depois de fo avizu atu sai. Tenente Koronel Falur fo orden ba soldadu sira atu tiru hasoru.
66. Konfrontasaun iha Fatu Ahi ne’e tiru malu to’o rai nakaras. Grupu Alfredo nian serku soldadu F-FDTL sira, ne’ebé la’os hotu-hotu maka iha kilat, ne’ebé halo sira labele dada an sai. Tenente Koronel Falur husu reforsu. Karreta PNTL nian ida ne’ebé tula ofisial PNTL nain 10, mai husi Baucau ba Dili tama sala iha tiru malu ne’e. Ofisial PNTL ida mate no rua hetan kanek. Iha maizemenus meudia, reforsu F-FDTL nian to’o, ne’ebé nain tolu hetan kanek. Iha primeiru tempu ne’ebé atu hanesan, bis ida tula soldadu sira F-FDTL nian ba Dili atu simu sira nian salariu mos to’o, depois de sira rona kilat tarutu. Sira hetan ataka iha metro besik 300 ba loromonu husi fatin emboskada ida uluk. Soldadu ida mate no nain tolu hetan kanek. Tuir fali, Major Rai Ria mai ho ninia eskoltu no sira nain rua hetan kanek. Iha maizemenus tuku 2 lorokraik, Major Amico to’o husi Metinaro ho nia ema maizemenus nain 10. Nia hakbesik ba Fatu Ahi husi foho sorin, no hetan pozisaun ás liu husi Major Alfredo ho ninia ema sira nian. Nune’e, Major Alfredo ses an iha karreta PNTL nian ida ne’ebé ikus nia fo fila fali. Major Reinado nia ema nain rua no sivil ida maka mate. Hamutuk ema nain lima maka mate no 10 maka hetan kanek

Armed confrontation in Fatu Ahi on 23 May 2006

64. By 22 May both the PNTL and F-FDTL possessed intelligence that PNTL URP officers were encouraging and supporting east versus west violence in the Fatu Ahi area. Plans for a joint F-FDTL and PNTL post were made. At about 11 a.m. on 23 May two vehicles carrying nine FDTL 1st Battalion soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Falur arrived in Fatu Ahi to rendezvous with PNTL officers. They were to conduct a field site assessment of the planned joint position. The vehicles stopped near the summit of Fatu Ahi. As the soldiers alighted from the vehicles they saw men in police uniforms behind the school and trees. These men were not the PNTL officers expected; they were members of Alfredo’s group.
65. Major Reinado and 11 of his men had arrived in the area from Aileu that morning. They were with civilians and 10 URP officers armed with automatic rifles. At about 9 a.m. two journalists arrived and commenced a videotaped interview with Major Reinado. The start of the armed confrontation is captured on that footage. The shooting was initiated by Major Reinado on the count of 10 after issuing a warning to leave. Lieutenant Colonel Falur ordered the soldiers to return fire.
66. The confrontation at Fatu Ahi lasted until nightfall. Alfredo’s group surrounded the FFDTL soldiers, not all of whom were armed, making it impossible for them to withdraw. Lieutenant Kolonel Falur sought reinforcements. A PNTL vehicle with 10 PNTL officers travelling between Baucau and Dili was caught in the fire. One PNTL officer was killed and two were injured. At about midday the first F-FDTL reinforcements arrived, three of whom were injured. At about the same time a F-FDTL bus carrying soldiers to Dili to collect their wages arrived after its passengers heard gunfire. It was attacked about 300 metres to the west of the original ambush site. One of these soldiers died and three were injured. Later, Major Rai Ria arrived with an escort and both were injured. At about 2 p.m. Major Amico arrived from Metinaro with about 10 men. He approached Fatu Ahi from around the hill and obtained a higher position above Major Alfredo and his men. Major Alfredo then withdrew, using a PNTL vehicle which was later returned. Two of Major Reinado’s men and one civilian were killed. In total, five people were killed and 10 injured.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Restroom Art

ARCOM, Illegal VSATs and International Security

As advertised in the Suara Timor Lorosae on 23 May 2009.

"If there is any operation of illegal VSAT afer 01 May 2009 which caused the inteference to the communications systems of other authorised entities and intefere to Communications system for Military Purposed which effected to national and International security, the company and the users will be fully responsibility refer to the existing Law in Timor-Leste.

Thank you for your attention".

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Contract Signed?

BOP

General Monteiro announces that the UIR will transform itself into the "BOP".... Battalhao de Ordem Publica..... Public Order Battalion. That usually numbers about 650-800 men...

BOP away then.

As reported on 16 May 2009

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Kolega? Inimigo?

Thursday, May 14, 2009

General Monteiro's Private Army


It would appear as though the new Commander of PNTL is worried. He has appointed 26 PNTL officer to act as his own close protection unit!?

Saturday, May 9, 2009

On the top of a waggon full with corn, complaining about hunger

To:

Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 9:18 PM

Subject: Re: Timor-Leste: Foreign Advisors - Remuneration (The Australian - 25 Apr 09)

Dear friends,

I am one of these "foreign advisors" in Timor-Leste and I am really shocked reading about the salary packages of "my colleagues". They really should be the top-managers of advisory. I am senior advisor for the Minister of Economy and Development, specialized for private sector development. I am comming from the private sector and worked as top-manager in multinational companies.and for the cambers of commerce in Germany and Brazil. Such kind of salaries cited in your article are not compatible with "market-prices", even considering that high class expertise is needed. I am working as an "integrated expert" and the Timorese Government has to contribute with US$ 388,88 per month. The German Government is paying my salary directly and I can asure you it is not more than a US$ 100,000 a year and I think this is really good payed.

The kind of exaggerated salaries for technical assitance in developing and underdeveloped countries cannot be justified to the tax-payers in the countries of origin. Furthermore, I feel myself personnally offended because now, with this discussion our reputation within the Timorese society is badly harmed. And I remember a jazz song which is saying, it is really cynical sitting on the top of a waggon loaded full with corn and complaining about hunger.

Bye

Friday, May 8, 2009

Atul Khare: East Timor's resident novelist?

A comment made by Timor justice activist Clinton Fernandes on the ETAN list directed towards UNMIT SRSG Atul Khare - with the barb in Hindi translated by the "DI" into English.



From: east-timor-owner@lists.riseup.net [mailto:east-timor-owner@lists.riseup.net] On Behalf Of Clinton Fernandes
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 5:56 PM
To: east-timor@lists.riseup.net
Subject: Re: the latest work of fiction by East Timor's resident novelist


SRSG Atul Khare: 10 years on - Strong foundations of democracy and rule of law

CF: Atul, we're both from India, old chum, so I recognise these platitudes a mile away. It's easier than smelling the location of the nearest Masala Dosa. You didn't explain why you didn't attend the 10th anniversary of the Liquica massacre last month. Nor your general silence on Justice. Secretary-General aisa nahin banta beta. Bahut kuch karna padega.

Translation:

"Son, it is not done like this. One will have to do a lot more."

or

"Son, it can't be done so easily. We (or you) have to do a lot more (than this)."

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Fictional View of Timor-Leste

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/East_Timor

Comment on Resident Novelist......

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dili Outsider
Date: Sat, May 9, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Subject: The Dili Insider : Atul Khare: East Timor's resident novelist?
To: thediliinsider@gmail.com

Dili Outsider has sent you a link to a blog:

Atul Khare did attend the Inauguration of the Tanah Abang Garden opposite the Hotel Timor last week. Guest of honours PM XG etc & Hercules the jakarta based koppassus thug with links to zahky Anwar. justice in Timor Leste?

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Samuel Beckett on What UNPOL should consider

Given the extraordinary success of UNPol over the decade it has been in Dili.

"If I had the use of my body, I would throw it out the window."

Saturday, May 2, 2009

PARLIAMENTARY COMPLEX - OCT 2008 PRESENTATION

Sent in by a reader.

Well, is it a hotel, casino, parliament, or major white elephant boondoggle joke?





























Friday, May 1, 2009

Samuel Beckett on The Big Banana

I have my faults, but changing my tune is not one of them.