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ADF Timor Task Force Waits for Green Light from UN |
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Sunday, 14 May 2006 |
 Australia's
biggest military task force since the 1999 East Timor crisis, including
warships, armoured vehicles, helicopters and 450 troops, will be ready
to sail to Dili by late next week.
HMAS Kanimbla, steaming back to Sydney yesterday from an exercise in
the Pacific, was ordered to turn around and head for Darwin.
East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta last night said his
country did not need foreign peacekeepers "because there is no war in
East Timor".
The navy's three largest ships, HMAS Kanimbla, HMAS Manoora and HMAS
Tobruk, will load Darwin-based armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and
hundreds of troops ahead of an expected United Nations request for
military assistance.
The peacekeeping task force will include more than 1000 personnel
equipped to enforce law and order and evacuate civilians from the
capital Dili.
It will include 450 infantry from the 1st and 2nd battalions of the
Townsville-based 3rd Brigade and APCs from the Darwin-based 1st Brigade.
According to sources, the Australian Government expects a UN request at any time.
Dr Ramos-Horta said while troops were not needed, additional
international police advisers would be helpful in the tiny nation,
which is due to hold general elections next year.
"We need an international police to create stability," he said.
At 2pm yesterday, Manoora and Tobruk were rapidly deployed from Garden Island.
Either Kanimbla or Manoora will stop at Townsville to pick up the 450 troops.
The APCs will be driven on to Tobruk and soldiers, other vehicles,
equipment and medical supplies will be carried on the other ships.
The UN mission in East Timor was due to end next Friday, but has been
extended by a month following riots, sparked by the sacking of 600
soldiers.
The troubles left five dead, hundreds injured and thousands fled Dili.
Prime Minister John Howard said the deployment was a sensible measure, but no request had been received from East Timor.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the Government was closely
monitoring the situation and would consider any request from the UN.
It is understood Australian soldiers have been sent to East Timor to assess the situation ahead of the task force.
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