The Timorese President, Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, renewed the mandate of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lere Anan Timur, by means of a presidential decree.
The Decree and Its Ambiguity
The document does not clarify the full extent of Timur’s renewed duties. It states only that the President determines “the continuity of the mandate in the position of Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces by its titular president, Major-General Lere Anan Timur, with effect from October 6, 2018 and not exceeding the legally defined limit.”
No specific timetable is given. Lere Anan Timur formally ended his third term on October 6, 2018 — the last term permitted under an exceptional regime that expired on December 31, 2016.
Background: A Recurring Tension Over Command
The succession in command of the F-FDTL has historically been a source of institutional tension. In 2016, the handover became one of the major friction points between the Government of the time and then-President Taur Matan Ruak, predecessor of Lere in command of the FDTL. At that time:
- Taur Matan Ruak moved to exonerate the commander
- He then announced the promotion of Filomeno Paixão to the post
- He subsequently reversed both decisions
- Mandates were ultimately extended
Official Publication and Justification
The Presidency of the Republic did not publicly announce the presidential decree, which was officially published on June 14, 2019 in the Official Gazette, and provided no additional information beyond the text itself.
The decree states that the decision was taken after:
- Receiving the Government’s position on the matter
- Consulting the High Council for Defense and Security
It cites as justification that it is “presently imperative and pressing, in the superior interest of military and State unity, as well as of the regular functioning of the military institution, to enact continuity in the mandate” of Timur.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 6, 2011 | Lere Anan Timur sworn in by President José Ramos-Horta |
| December 31, 2016 | Exceptional mandate regime expired |
| October 6, 2018 | Timur’s third and final permitted term formally ended |
| Mid-October 2018 | Lu-Olo publicly stated support for renewing Timur’s mandate |
| June 14, 2019 | Presidential decree published in the Official Gazette |