DILI, 08 october 2020 (TATOLI)– Lieutenant Col, Martin Dransfield, a New Zealand forces officer who has supported Timor-Leste for many years in the Development of Human Capacity has completed his mission.
Director of National Institution of Defence (IDN), Navy Captain, Donaciano Costa Gomes “Pedro Klamar Fuik” thanked the work and cooperation of Mr Dransfield with his support of F-FDTL whilst being a professor teaching at IDN.
“Thank you, Coronel Martin Dransfield, for joining us at IDN. We do not have anything special to give to you. However IDN appreciates your ability to build a good rapport with so many people, right up until today we have a send-off ceremony for you,” Pedro Klamar Fuik said.
Lieutenant Colonel Martin Dransfield has been on duty as the Strategical Advisor for the Chief Mayor General of FALINTIL-Defense Force in Timor-Leste (F-DTL), Major General Lere Anan Timur.
Mr Dransfield, who is also a professor at IDN, was teaching operational peace support to the students there.
Pedro Klamar Fuik considers Martin Dransfield as a good friend to all Timorese people, as his duty in Timor-Leste begun from the day Timor-Leste got independence through until today.
Martin Dransfield feels delighted and honoured when he was invited by the IDN team to teach about operation peace support for 5th CPOS at IDN.
“I worked in Timor-Leste for a total of six years. I initially started my mission in the year 2000 when I was a New Zealand Force Commander of a Battalion. I have worked with the IDN Director, Pedro Klamar Fuik from the time I was involved in the naval component of the Covalima border, after the end of my mission, I returned to my country. I came back to Timor-Leste in 2011, and in 2012 we got the opportunity to provide training around operational peace support and maritime policy,” Mr Dransfield said.
He added, New Zealand Forces is proud and will continue to follow the progress within the F-FDTL
To him, the training set by the IDN to gather the PNTL and F-FDTL is essential. New Zealand also has a training centre named command staff college (CSC) which invites the militaries from China, Japan and New Zealand to share knowledge with their students.
Journalist: Eugénio Pereira
Editor: Francisco Simões/Nick Kettle
