Timor-Leste’s security sector, including but not limited to, its uniformed institutions (the FALINTIL-FDTL and the PNTL) belongs to Timorese citizens. While seemingly obvious, this was not always the case, and has only come to be a reality in Timor-Leste relatively recently. It’s a process that has largely been overseen by Dr. Julio Tomas Pinto, appointed Secretary of State for Defence in 2007. Historically, Timorese were excluded from key decision-making regarding the security sector during the 4 centuries of Portuguese colonial rule until 1975. This was also the case during the Indonesian period, although highlighted by its highly predatory nature, under the Suharto military – political dictatorship. Between 1999 and the restorations of Timor-Leste’s independence in 2002 the security was dominated by the international community in the form of a peacekeeping operation tied to a Transitional Administration. It was not until 20 May 2004 that the international community transferred full powers over the security sector to the Timorese state, and its citizens. Between 1999 and 2002 the design and direction of the Timorese security sector were the sole remit of a small number of Timorese in consultation with an equally small group of foreigners. Timorese citizens were largely left of the equation. They were not happy about this, and between 2001 and 2006 various forms of grievance and agitation were directed at the security sector, and in some cases emanating from inside the army and police themselves. This played a key role in the security sector imploding in 2006 resulting in a near civil war in the small half island state.