United Nations Radio

A UN team of experts visiting Timor-Leste is quite pleased with the development of its police force, known as the PNTL.

The team, led by UN Police Advisor Andrew Hughes, is assessing progress in reforming the security sector of the young nation, which gained independence in 2002. Mr. Hughes praises the joint effort by the police of the UN Mission in Timor Leste (UNPOL) and the PNTL in training the Timorese police.

"Although there are some challenges ahead for the Mission and for PNTL, there has been some significant progress. Some areas of PNTL are working quite well, it's a functioning organization. It's not strong yet, but it's only new, and it has only emerged from a crisis, so you can't expect too much. But overall I am really pleased to see that, as I said, some significant progress has been made. There is good cooperation between UNPOL and PNTL."

Strengthening the National police is seen as a priority in the country, which has seen violent clashes in 2006 and attacks on its President and Prime Minister last month.