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National Police of Timor-Leste

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National Police of Timor-Leste
Polísia Nasionál Timór Lorosa'e
Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste
Badge of the National Police of Timor-Leste
Badge of the National Police of Timor-Leste
AbbreviationPNTL
MottoServir e Proteger
Serve and Protect
Agency overview
Formed2000; 25 years ago (2000)
Preceding agency
Legal personalityPolice service
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyTimor-Leste
Operations jurisdictionTimor-Leste
Governing bodyMinistry of the Interior
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersDili, Timor-Leste
Police officers4,337 (2024)
Elected officer responsible
Agency executive
Website
www.pntl.tl

The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL; Portuguese: Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste; Tetum: Polísia Nasionál Timór Lorosa'e) is the national police force of Timor-Leste.

History

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Background

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During the Indonesian occupation, the East Timor Regional Police [id] (Indonesian: Kepolisian Daerah Timor Timur or Polda) was responsible for law enforcement in East Timor. Polda dissolved just prior to the August 1999 East Timorese independence referendum,[1] though up to 8,000 Indonesian police officers remained in the country during the referendum and the violence that followed.[2] A 300-strong United Nations police force, which arrived in May 1999 to advise the Indonesian police and help maintain security during the referendum, was also present during this period.[3][4] After the referendum, most police officers withdrew from the country to West Timor.[5]

Formation and early development

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In October 1999, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) assumed responsibility for law enforcement and internal security in the country.[5] Between 2000–2002, more than 1,600 UN Civilian Police (CivPol) were deployed, with executive policing authority.[5] From the start, UNTAET gave significant attention to the development of a police force, with US$4.3 million budgeted in 2000–2001 and plans to recruit 3,000 officers.[5][6][7][8][9] An extensive recruitment drive was carried out in early 2000, with more than 12,000 applicants for the first cohort of 150 recruits.[7] The new East Timor Police Training College opened in Dili to its first class of 50 cadets—39 men and 11 women—on 27 March 2000.[8] This date is recognized by the government of Timor-Leste as the foundation of the PNTL.[10] The first 50 cadets graduated from the police academy on 11 July 2000 after a three-month course and were deployed to their home districts for another three months of on-the-job training.[9]

On 10 August 2001, the East Timor Police Service (ETPS) was officially established, working alongside the UN's CivPol.[11] During UNTAET's administration, 1,700 police officers were recruited and trained, and 370 former members of the Indonesian-era police were integrated into ETPS after an intensive four-week training course.[5] However, CivPol struggled with planning and competency, failing to develop effective operational and management structures for the new police service.[5]

Structure

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There are at least three special units within the PNTL: the Police Reserve Unit, formerly the Rapid Deployment Service; the Border Patrol Unit (Unidade de Patrulhamento de Fronteiras, UPF); and the Rapid Intervention Unit, or UIR, modeled after the Portuguese National Republican Guard riot police, which served in East Timor before its independence.[12] The PNTL has 4,337 sworn officers as of 2024.[13]

Equipment

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Firearms

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  • National Police of Timor-Leste officers
    National Police of Timor-Leste officers
  • National Police of Timor-Leste officers
    National Police of Timor-Leste officers
  • PNTL PWC-25TL APCs with water cannons[15]
    PNTL PWC-25TL APCs with water cannons[15]
  • Police station at Bobonaro Village
    Police station at Bobonaro Village

Historical police emblems

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Criticism

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There are accusation that some PNTL officers have tortured prisoners who have been arrested.[16]

In August 2017, the PNTL was criticized by Fundasaun Mahein for allowing its officers to be visible with heavy weapons since it undermines the force's community policing strategy.[17]

On 18 November 2018, PNTL officer José Mina, shot dead three young men during a party in the neighborhood of Kulu Hun in Dili.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Hayati, Istiqomatul (17 December 2003). "Kapolri Melikuidasi Polda Timor Timur" [Chief Liquidates East Timor Police]. Tempo (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Background Briefing: Questions and Answers on East Timor". Human Rights Watch. 8 September 1999. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ^ "First UN police officer arrives for mammoth East Timor task". AFP. 9 May 1999. Retrieved 21 July 2025 – via ETAN.
  4. ^ "Civilian Police Officers, members of the United Nations Mission East Timor (UNAMET) during a ..." Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Wassel, Todd (March 2014). Institutionalising community policing in Timor-Leste: Police development in Asia's youngest country (PDF). The Asia Foundation. pp. 5–15. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Regulation No. 2000/21: Appropriations (No.1) 2000-2001" (PDF). United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. 30 June 2000. p. 4. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b Dodd, Mark (6 May 2000). "Signs of progress emerge from rubble". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 July 2025 – via ETAN.
  8. ^ a b "East Timor police training college opens with 50 cadets". UN Peacekeeping. 27 March 2000. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  9. ^ a b "First Working Day of East Timorese Police Cadets". UNTAET Daily Briefing. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 21 July 2025 – via ReliefWeb.
  10. ^ "PNTL: from 2000 to 2011". Government of Timor-Leste. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Regulation No. 2000/21: On the Establishment of the East Timor Police Service" (PDF). United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. 10 August 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Ramos Horta Calls for Death Squad Claims Probe". Partido Democratico Timor-Leste. ABC/AFP. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  13. ^ de Sousa, Camilio (24 January 2024). "Timor-Leste to recruit 200 new PNTL officers". TATOLI Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e Robert Muggah and Emile LeBrun, ed. (October 2010). Timor-Leste Armed Violence Assessment Final Report (PDF). Special Report No. 12. Small Arms Survey. p. 17. ISBN 978-2-940415-43-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2016.
  15. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20240914013228/https://www.airspace-review.com/2018/12/22/mengenal-ransus-pwc-25tl-panser-kanon-air-buatan-pindad-untuk-timor-leste/
  16. ^ "E Timor Police 'Torture Suspects'". BBC News. 20 April 2006.
  17. ^ "PNTL Officers Should Carry Appropriate Weaponry - Fundasaun Mahein". 9 August 2017.
  18. ^ Davidson, Helen (20 November 2018). "Timor Leste: drunk police officer's alleged killing of three teenagers sparks protests". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
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