Falur Rate Laek

Domingos Raúl, more commonly known as Falur Rate Laek, is an East Timorese general who serves as the incumbent Chief of Defence Force of the Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL). Before his assumption to the post, Falur Rate Laek formerly served as the Deputy Commander of the Timor-Leste Defence Force, Chief of Staff, Timor Leste Defence Force and as battalion commander of the 1st Battalion.

Born and raised from a family of farmers, Falur Rate Laek later became a member of the Fretilin during the Indonesian invasion of East Timor and later served under various positions within the Fretilin chain of command and was also involved during the 1999 East Timorese crisis, where the F-FDTL, backed by the International Force East Timor (INTERFRET) fought against Pro-Indonesia militias. Falur Rate Lek was later appointed by former President Francisco Guterres as the Chief of Defence Force on 28 January 2022 and was later promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

Early life and education Falur Rate Laek was born on 9 July 1955 at Samaliu district, Ossu Administrative Post, which is located within the Viqueque Municipality and came from a simple family of farmers that owns a small farmland within the district. Falur Rate Laek is the fourth child among eleven siblings, and later entered the Loi-Huno Elementary School in 1964 and graduated in 1968. He later entered the intensive School Monitor course in 1973. Falur Rate Laek also completed various courses and programs such as the Operational Command and Forces Internship in Portugal, the Court Officer Course at the Nicolau Lobato Training Center (Centro de Instrução Comandante Nicolau Lobato), and the F-FDTL Officer and Sergeant Training Course in Aileu, Timor Leste. During his term as Chief of Staff, Falur's term was impacted due to the government's shuffling of ministers, which caused tensions between former President Taur Matan Ruak and the Defense Ministry, and led to the delay of his promotion to brigadier general, which is also a move that could temporarily place Falur in reserve. Despite the political uncertainty, Falur was later reelected as the Chief of Staff on 5 October 2017 and led to his renewed term which immediately began a day after his reappointment on 6 October 2015. His term also comes after his appointment by former President Francisco Guterres, and was later promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 7 June 2018. On 1 October 2018, Falur was named as the Deputy Commander of the Timor-Leste Defence Force. On 21 January 2022, Falur was later nominated by the Council of Ministers to become the Chief of Defence Force and later assumed his post on a week after on 28 January 2022, replacing Lieutenant General Lere Anan Timur.

Dates of promotion

Awards from military service Order of the Guerrilla (awarded on 7 December 2006)

1st Class, D. Afonso Henriques Medal (awarded by Portugal)

Personal life Falur Rate Laek is married to Rosa Maria Quintão and they have four children, consisting of three daughters and one son. His interests include defense, citizenship, and history, and is known to attend seminars related to these interests. Falur can speak four languages, namely Tetum, Makasae, Portuguese and Indonesian. Falur also wrote a personal memoir named O Vôo da Pomba and was published on 2018. He is also a known fan of football, and he is known as the football club president of the Clube Lica-Lica Lemorai and as the Vice President of the Football Federation of Timor-Leste.