Editing Timor-Leste Defence Force (section)

=== 2006 crisis ===

{{Further|topic=Timor-Leste's political and security sector crisis in 2006|2006 crisis in Timor-Leste}}
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| image1 = [http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200605/r87502_258384.jpg An East Timorese soldier during fighting in May 2006]<ref>{{cite news |title=Aust to send troops to E Timor |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-05-24/aust-to-send-troops-to-e-timor/1761522 |work=ABC News |date=24 May 2006 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=14 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614003448/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-05-24/aust-to-send-troops-to-e-timor/1761522 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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The tensions within the F-FDTL came to a head in 2006. In January, 159 soldiers from most units in the F-FDTL complained in a petition to then President [[Xanana Gusmão]] that soldiers from the east of the country received better treatment than westerners. The 'petitioners' received only a minimal response and left their barracks three weeks later, leaving their weapons behind.<ref name=Inquiry21>United Nations Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-Leste (2007), p. 21</ref> They were joined by hundreds of other soldiers and on 16 March the F-FDTL's commander, [[Brigadier General]] [[Taur Matan Ruak]], dismissed 594 soldiers, which was nearly half of the force.<ref name=icg2/> The soldiers dismissed were not limited to the petitioners, and included about 200 officers and other ranks who had been chronically [[absent without leave]] in the months and years before March 2006.<ref name=Inquiry21/>

The crisis escalated into violence in late April. On 24 April, the petitioners and some of their supporters held a four-day demonstration outside the Government Palace in Dili calling for the establishment of an independent commission to address their grievances. Violence broke out on 28 April when some of the petitioners and gangs of youths who had joined the protest attacked the Government Palace. The PNTL failed to contain the protest and the Palace was badly damaged. After violence spread to other areas of Dili, Prime Minister [[Mari Alkatiri]] requested that the F-FDTL help restore order. Troops with no experience in crowd control were deployed to Dili on 29 April and three deaths resulted. On 3 May Major [[Alfredo Reinado]], the commander of the F-FDTL's [[military police]] unit, and most of his soldiers including Lt [[Gastão Salsinha]] abandoned their posts in protest at what they saw as the army's deliberate shooting of civilians.<ref>United Nations Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-Leste (2007), pp. 21–30 and International Crisis Group (2008), p. 2</ref>

Fighting broke out between the remnants of the East Timorese security forces and the rebels and gangs in late May. On 23 May Reinado's rebel group opened fire on F-FDTL and PNTL personnel in the Fatu Ahi area. On 24 May F-FDTL personnel near the Force's headquarters were attacked by a group of rebel police officers, petitioners and armed civilians. The attack was defeated when one of the F-FDTL naval component's patrol boats fired on the attackers.<ref>United Nations Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-Leste (2007), pp. 31–33</ref> During the crisis the relationship between the F-FDTL and PNTL had deteriorated further, and on 25 May members of the F-FDTL attacked the PNTL's headquarters, killing nine unarmed police officers.<ref name=icg2/>

As a result of the escalating violence the government was forced to appeal for international peacekeepers on 25 May. Peacekeepers [[Operation Astute|began to arrive in Dili]] the next day and eventually restored order. A total of 37 people were killed in the fighting in April and May and 155,000 fled their homes. A United Nations inquiry found that the interior and defence ministers and the commander of the F-FDTL had illegally transferred weapons to civilians during the crisis and recommended that they be prosecuted.<ref>{{cite press release |title=UN commission of inquiry issues report on violent crisis that shook Timor-Leste |publisher=United Nations |date=17 October 2006 |url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20284&Cr=timor&Cr1=inquiry |access-date=1 September 2007 |archive-date=10 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810051344/https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20284&Cr=timor&Cr1=inquiry |url-status=live }}</ref>

By September the F-FDTL had been much reduced, and comprised Headquarters (95 personnel), Force Communications Unit
(21), Military Police Unit (18), First Battalion (317), Naval Component (83), Force Logistics Unit (63) and Nicolau Lobato Training Centre, Metinaro (118). In addition, 43 former Second Battalion members were on courses.<ref name="icg5"/>