Timor-Leste
Dili Coast, Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste Police Development Program
The Timor-Leste Police Development Program (TLPDP) is a bilateral agreement between the governments of Australia and Timor-Leste to develop the Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL).
Managed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the program is a $53M commitment by the Australian Government to provide a policing and training presence in Timor-Leste until 2010. All members are posted in Dili and work with the UNPOL and the PNTL.
The new TLPDP agreement commenced on 1 July 2008 and will be delivered through a range of initiatives over a two-year period and evaluated for continuation or further development in the longer term.
Over the two years 2008-2010 the AFP will deploy up to 80 highly-skilled capacity-builders to help establish:
- a PNTL that is robust enough to continue operating as a legitimate entity (within the law) when confronted by serious domestic crises, and
- a policing capability that has the governance, values and operational characteristics to support an increasingly strengthened rule of law in an emerging democracy.
The TLPDP has no executive powers and focuses on institutional strengthening to give their PNTL counterparts the skills necessary to perform their duties, such as:
- developing and enhancing PNTL leadership and police management
- enhancing PNTL vocational police skills
- developing and implementing a full range of corporate and operational policies, processes and practices
- developing the human capital of the PNTL
- enhancing PNTL accountability and transparency
- supporting domestic research to stimulate thought and policy advice on rule of law
- providing resources to help eliminate barriers to progress, and
- taking advantage of opportunities to accelerate police development, with particular emphasis on community involvement and broader security-sector reform.
Language training
AFP personnel undergo three weeks of intensive language training (in Tetun) on arrival in country and ongoing language development opportunities are provided throughout their deployment.
Background
The TLPDP commenced in 2004 as a four year and a half year program, jointly funded by the AFP, AusAID and the British Government.
Following civil unrest in Dili in May 2006, the AFP suspended its commitment to the program and TLPDP members were diverted to support the international police there.
In December 2006, four AFP members returned to TLPDP duties. Following a request for additional training support from the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Secretary of State for Security, the mission was extended to 12 members in February 2007.
Map of Timor
Related sites
- The Timor-Leste Police Development Program
- CIA - The World Factbook - Timor
- Current Peace Keeping Operations Timor-Leste (UN website)
- DFAT page on East Timor