EAST TIMOR: FALINTIL GUERRILLA FORCE BECOMES WORLD'S NEWEST INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED ARMY

Record ID: 858790

  • Title: EAST TIMOR: FALINTIL GUERRILLA FORCE BECOMES WORLD'S NEWEST INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED ARMY
  • Date: 3rd February 2001
  • Summary: AILEU, EAST TIMOR (FEBRUARY 1, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV FALINTIL SOLDIERS ON PARADE / PRESENT ARMS; SLV PAN OF SOLDIERS ON PARADE / VARIOUS SOLDIERS; CROWD WATCHING / SOLDIERS LOWER FLAG; LAS FLAG (16 SHOTS) 1.26 2. SCU FALINTIL ARMY COMMANDER, BRIGADIER-GENERAL TAUR MATAN RUAK, ADDRESSING PARADE 1.40 3. SLV SOLDIERS; SCU TRIBAL CHIEFS WATCHING / SOLDIERS; SCU FALINTIL BADGE ON SOLDIER'S SLEEVE; MV SOLDIERS (8 SHOTS) 2.11 4. MV MASS BEING PERFORMED BY EAST TIMOR'S SPIRITUAL LEADER BISHOP CARLOS BELO (4 SHOTS) 2.33 5. SCU INDEPENDENCE LEADER XANANA GUSMAO SEATED WITH HIS WIFE KIRSTY SWORD (RIGHT) AND HOLDING HIS BABY SON / PANS TO THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN EAST TIMOR, SERGIO VEIRA DE MELLO 2.42 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: AILEU, EAST TIMOR
  • City:
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics:
  • Reuters ID: LVAE530DTLS41A1URUQFHI7URJE2
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: The East Timorese guerrilla force that fought
    Indonesian troops for the territory's independence has become
    the world's newest internationally-recognised army.

    Falintil waged one of the world's most enduring battles
    for independence, fighting in the jungles of East Timor for 26
    years.

    For almost three decades, the Falintil guerrillas were
    a ragtag army fighting the highly-trained and highly-equipped
    Indonesian forces in the jungles of East Timor, annexed by
    Jakarta in 1976.

    Indonesia had been confident the rebels would be crushed.

    But today they are the world's newest
    internationally-recognised army in an independent nation.

    Later this year, almost three years since the East
    Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia in a
    U.N. -administered referendum, the territory is scheduled to
    hold its first democratic elections.

    At Falintil's mountain headquarters of Aileu on Thursday
    (February 1), an emotional ceremony marked the beginning of
    the military forces' new role.

    The East Timor Defence Force, as it is now known, will
    be responsible for defence of the territory which has a
    population of some 400,000 people.

    Estimates vary on the number killed during the orgy of
    violence that accompanied East Timor's decision to opt for
    independence.

    Some analysts say up to 2,000 people could have died,
    killed by pro-Jakarta militias and Indonesian troops.

    The former Falintil flag was lowered and presented to
    former commander Xanana Gusmao who has led the territory's
    independence movement.

    The first batch of 650 recruits drawn from 1,700
    Falintil veterans will soon start 12 weeks of basic training
    conducted by Portugal, of which East Timor was a colony before
    being invaded by Indonesia in 1975.

    Specialist training will be undertaken by Australia
    which will lend the embryonic East Timor Defence Force, or the
    ETDT, 300 assault rifles.

    The ETDF will consist of a light infantry force
    comprising 1,500 regulars and 1,500 reservists, to be
    recruited over the next three years.

    A special fund worth two million U.S. dollars has been
    established to provide income support and vocational training
    to an estimated 1,000 Falintil veterans who will be
    demobilised.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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