Order of Timor-Leste

The Order of Timor-Leste (Portuguese: Ordem de Timor-Leste) is the highest honour currently awarded by East Timor. Established in 2009, the order was created after the original honours granted by East Timor. It is of a more general and broader nature than the original orders related to East Timor's independence. The order recognises the contributions of East Timorese and foreign nationals who have made a significant contribution to East Timor, the Timorese or Mankind in general.

Order of Timor-Leste Ordem de Timor-Leste
Awarded for	Recognition of significant contributions to national peace and stability.[1]
Country	East Timor
Presented by	the President of East Timor
Eligibility	Civilians and military personnel including foreigners[1]
Established	6 May 2009[1]
Ribbon bar of the order
Precedence
Next (higher)	Orders given to the Fighters and Martyrs for National Liberation[2]
Next (lower)	Medal of Merit[2]

Criteria and award procedure

The Order of Timor-Leste is awarded to recognise and thank those individuals who have made a significant contribution for the benefit of East Timor, the Timorese, or Mankind. This general criteria recognises such acts as:^[1]

• Exceptional merit while in the performance of military duties or in the command of the armed forces while on campaign
• Acts of heroism, both military and civil
• Exceptional acts of sacrifice or self-denial for the benefit of the country or others
• Distinguished service in the performance of duties related to public administration, in the magistracy, or diplomacy
• Military service of an exceptional nature
• Cultural merit, particularly in the fields of literature, science, art, or education
• Relevant services provided to help the dignity of man or defence of the cause of freedom
• Any public or private works which demonstrate selflessness and self-denial for the benefit of the community
• Distinguished service in the field of sports

The President of East Timor may present the Order of Timor-Leste on his own initiative, by the proposal of the National Parliament, or by a proposal of the Council of Ministers. The Minister of Defence and Security and the Chief of Staff of the Armed is consulted when the order is to be presented to East Timorese or foreign military personnel. The Minister of Defence and Security and the General Commander of Timor-Leste's National Police Force is consulted whenever the order is to be presented to East Timorese or foreign members of police forces. The Foreign Minister is consulted whenever the order is to be presented to a foreigner.^[1]

Grades

The Order of Timor-Leste is presented in four grades:

• Grand Collar
• Collar
• Medal
• Insignia

Each grade may only be bestowed once upon the same person. The Grand Collar is bestowed exclusively on to Heads of sovereign States. Upon the completion of their term of office those persons who have served as the President of the Republic are entitled to be awarded the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste. The collar is granted on the day following the installation of the next President of the Republic.^[1]

The medal of the order may also be granted to communities, institutions, diplomats, police forces and units and military units. The medal is granted to entities deemed worthy of recognition by way of an official report of the Council of Ministers, which have existed for at least 15 years and are likely to exist on into the future. Military and police units are not held to this same standard.^[1]

Notable recipients

Grand Collar of the Order

• Bill Clinton^[3]
• Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono^[4]
• Joko Widodo^[5]
• Samora Machel^[6]
• David Hurley^[7]
• Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa^[8]
• Umaro Sissoco Embaló^[9]
• Hassanal Bolkiah^[10]
• Droupadi Murmu^[11]

Collar of the Order

• Mário Viegas Carrascalão (awarded 18 May 2017)^[12]
• Sir Peter Cosgrove^[13]
• Noam Chomsky
• Basílio do Nascimento^[14][15]

Medal of the Order

• Judith Fergin^[16]
• Sir Angus Houston^[17]
• Timor Leste Defence Force^[18]
• National Republican Guard (Portugal)^[19]
• UN Police UNMIT^[20]
• Mohamed Salama Badi^[16]
• Max Stahl^[21]
• East Timor and Indonesia Action Network^[22]
• Mrs. Suzanne Wilson-Uilelea^[23]

Insignia

• Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza^[24]

Unknown Class

• Aníbal Cavaco Silva^{[citation needed]}
• Fernando de Araújo^[25]
• António Ramalho Eanes^{[citation needed]}
• Jaime Gama^{[citation needed]}
• Lee Chiong Giam (2012)^[26]
• Vicente Guterres^[27]
• Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus^{[citation needed]}
• Gordon McIntosh^{[citation needed]}
• John Pilger^[28]
• José Ramos-Horta^{[citation needed]}
• António Manuel Fernandes da Silva Ribeiro^{[citation needed]}
• Taur Matan Ruak
• Seeds of Hope^[29]
• The people of Portugal^[30]
• The trade union movement of Australia^[31]
• Kofi Annan^[32]
• The people of Vanuatu^[33]

See also

• Orders, decorations, and medals of Timor-Leste

References

1. "DECREE-LAW No. 20/2009 of 6th May Order of Timor-Leste" (PDF). JORNAL DA REPÚBLICA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
2. "Journal de República Série I, N.° 22\page=4879" (PDF). 15 June 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
3. etan.org: Timor-Leste Honored President Bill Clinton. 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
4. "SBY to attend Timor Leste's Independence day". 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
5. "President Jokowi Receives Highest Medal of Honour from Timor Leste". 26 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
6. "Samora Machel posthumously decorated by Timor-Leste".
7. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=320806223568530&set=pcb.320932373555915 ^{[user-generated source]}
8. "Presidente da República condecorado em Timor-Leste". Presidente da República Portuguesa. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
9. https://en.tatoli.tl/2023/11/28/the-award-of-the-medal-of-honour-is-intended-to-recognize-embalos-work-in-promoting-friendship-between-the-two-peoples-reaffirming-peace-and-strengthening-national-stability/19 ^{[bare URL]}
10. "His Majesty's State Visit to Timor-Leste: Highlights". Borneo Bulletin. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
11. "Indian President Droupadi Murmu conferred with Timor Leste's highest civilian honour". INDIA BLOOMS. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
12. "Government expresses condolences on the passing of Mário Viegas Carrascalão". Government of East Timor. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
13. "Peter Cosgrove presented with the collar of the Order of East Timor". Order of East Timor medal presentations. Image Gallery, Department of Defence, Australian Government. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
14. de Sousa, Nelson (1 November 2021). "Estadu kondekora Dom Basílio do Nascimento ho Colar Ordem Timor-Leste" [The State has awarded Dom Basilio do Nascimento the Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste] (in Tetum). Tatoli. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
15. Gomes, Domingas (1 November 2021). "Estadu Kondekora Bispo Dom Basilio do Nascimento Ho Colar Ordem Timor-Leste" [The State awards the Order of Timor-Leste to the Bishop Dom Basilio do Nascimento]. STLNEWS (in Tetum). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
16. "Accredited ambassadors in Dili receive Order of Timor-Leste medals". The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste - Office of the President. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
17. "Angus Houston receives Order of Timor-Leste". Australian Government, Department of Defence. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
18. "Major General Lere Anan Timur and F-FDTL receive Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste". The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste - Office of the President. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
19. "Condecoração da Guarda Nacional Republicana com a Medalha da Ordem de Timor-Leste". Portuguese GNR. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
20. "President bestows Medal Order of Timor-Leste for UN Police". Timornewsline.com. 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
21. Baird, Robert (25 November 2019). "Max Stahl awarded Highest Civilian Honour | TATOLI Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste". Tatoli. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
22. etan.org: Timor-Leste Honored President Bill Clinton. 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
23. Press Release – President Ramos-Horta Honors Australian Deputy Ambassador To Timor-Leste. 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
24. "Jornal da República". mj.gov.tl. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
25. Jornal da República: DECRETO PRESIDENTE 46/2012, 19 May 2012, retrieved 29 April 2020.
26. Ong, Justin (12 March 2021). "Veteran diplomat and former PA chief Lee Chiong Giam dies at 79". Straits Times. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
27. Diário Nacional: PR timorense condecora principais figuras do Estado na reta final de mandato, 3 May 2017, retrieved 21 June 2017.
28. JohnPilger.com: The universal lesson of the courage of East Timor. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
29. etan.org: Timor-Leste Honored President Bill Clinton. 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
30. etan.org: Timor-Leste Honored President Bill Clinton. 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
31. etan.org: Timor-Leste Honored President Bill Clinton. 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
32. etan.org: Timor-Leste Honored President Bill Clinton. 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
33. etan.org: Timor-Leste Honored President Bill Clinton. 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2023.