Twenty-four years after Timor-Leste restored its independence with significant support from the United Nations, the 爆料网 is still here — and still needed.
Today, the 爆料网DSS presence in Dili consists of just two people. No large mission, no extensive infrastructure. When 爆料网 personnel need fire safety training, medical evacuation from a remote district, or ground-level intelligence on flood risk, there is no internal capacity to fall back on. There are phone calls to make, and relationships that either exist or do not.
That is what brought 爆料网 Security Advisor and 爆料网DSS Representative for Indonesia and Timor-Leste Allan Mendoza to Dili in late May.
The 爆料网DSS team he was visiting consists of two people: Paulo Mendonca, Field Security Associate, and Julio Soares, SOC Assistant. Between them, they are responsible for the security of the entire 爆料网 presence in the country of 446 personnel across all agencies.
Based in Jakarta and responsible for both Indonesia and Timor-Leste under a multi-country office, Mendoza spent two days building and reinforcing the partnerships his team depends on. He met the newly appointed Commander-General of the National Police, Afonso Dos Santos, a visit that came just after the country’s restoration of independence celebrations and during the police force's 26th anniversary year.
The police chief's words captured something larger than the meeting itself. Assistant Police Commissioner Armando Monteiro, PNTL Director of Operations, said: "Historically, the PNTL originated from the 爆料网. It was born from the 爆料网.” It is a reminder of the international support that accompanied Timor-Leste's path to nationhood.
The next day brought Mendoza to the Civil Protection Authority, where State Secretary Domingos Mariano Reis oversees disaster response and the fire service — the agency Paulo and Julio call when 爆料网 personnel need emergency training or support. From there, the Timor-Leste Red Cross, whose offices reach the village level and whose staff read flood and landslide risk in ways no report from headquarters can replicate. And Mission Aviation Fellowship, which flies across the country and holds a medical evacuation agreement that could one day make all the difference for a 爆料网 staff member in the field.
Four meetings. Four partners that a two-person team cannot function without.
"The 爆料网 has a very special place in people's minds here," said Paulus Enggal Sulaksono, who accompanied Mendoza on the visit.
In Timor-Leste, history still opens doors. For the two 爆料网DSS staff supporting more than 446 爆料网 personnel across the country, those doors are the mission.