Foreign troops set to quell Dili fighting

Foreign troops set to quell Dili fighting

International peacekeepers were preparing to head to East Timor, officially known as Timor-Leste, Wednesday, to help restore order after two days of deadly gunbattles between disgruntled ex-soldiers. Embassies have also begun to evacuate non-essential personnel.

Thursday, May 25, 2006


International peacekeepers were preparing to head to East Timor, officially known as Timor-Leste, Wednesday, to help restore order after two days of deadly gunbattles between disgruntled ex-soldiers. Embassies have also begun to evacuate non-essential personnel.
"We can't control the situation," said Foreign Minister Jose Ramos- Horta, adding that troops from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal had been asked to help "disarm renegade troops and police rebelling against the state."

Predominantly Catholic East Timor has been troubled by unrest since more than 500 soldiers were fired earlier this year when they went on strike to protest against alleged discrimination in the military.

The trouble has escalated into the worst violence since pro-Indonesia militias went on a rampage after East Timorese voted overwhelmingly for independence in 1999.

Rebel soldiers ambushed troops on the outskirts of the capital Tuesday, sparking gunfights that left at least two people dead and eight wounded.

Violence flared anew Wednesday on the west side of the capital Dili, spreading later to the south of the city, near the home of the top military chief, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak.

One marine officer shot in the neck is in serious condition in hospital.

The spiraling violence prompted the United States and Australia to order the evacuation of non essential personnel.

Australia said it was considering sending a battalion of 1,000 troops.

"We would want to make sure if we send in a force there ... our troops ... would be secure as we can possibly make them, so we would want it to be a reasonably robust force," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

Portugal also agreed to send troops, and dozens of police and military forces from New Zealand were already boarding flights to Dili.

Earlier Wednesday, Timorese President Xanana Gusmao said he would "hunt down" those responsible for the violence, including the alleged ringleader, former Australian-trained police major Alfredo Reinado.

"We have to stop them so the people of East Timor are not living in fear and panic," Gusmao said.

At the heart of the conflict are former soldiers' claims they were being discriminated against because they came from the west of the country, while the military leaders are from the east.

A government investigation into the allegations has been undertaken.

Reinaldo and his men deserted their station last month to help the soldiers.

Five people were killed and thousands of East Timorese fled their homes when protests by the soldiers initially turned violent late last month. East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999 after 24 years of occupation. Indonesia had invaded East Timor in 1975 and declared it a province in 1976, following centuries of Portuguese control.

Australia led the UN-backed intervention force to East Timor to help quell violence by pro-Indonesian militias after the 1999 vote. An estimated 1,000 people died in that violence. United Nations peacekeepers left a year ago.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS