DETENTION CENTRE

TU 631.2.6

OP ASTUTE

Military Police detention operations, OP ASTUTE Timor Leste 2006

On 26 May 2006, the Ready Battalion Group (RBG) Military Police Section, drawn from 1 MP Coy, landed at Dili and commenced operations alongside and with their colleagues from Battlegroup Faithful, based on the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and the wider JTF 631.

The scenes that confronted the RBG Section and the rest of JTF 631 were highly reminiscent of the early days of INTERFET; chaos reined in the streets of Dili; whole streets were ablaze and there was significant fighting along ethnic lines and looting taking place throughout the Dili AO. The rationale behind the government's decision to commit to the multinational stablilisation mission was immediately clear – law and order had broken down in Dili. JTF 631's mandate was equally clear – assist with the restoration of the rule of law.

The RBG MP section, were tasked to provide direct police support to the Battlegroup at a time when there was literally no effective police presence in Dili. Among the many jobs they successfully completed included handling and processing hundreds of confiscated firearms, assisting the International Police Task Force (IPTF) commence investigations into serious crimes, assisting the JTF 631 restore order at a number of crowd events and the direct provision of MP support to JTF 631 stabilisation operations.

On 29 May 2006, CJTF 631 directed that an interim detention facility be established at the Dili Heliport to provide a safe place of detention for persons detained by JTF 631. The RGB section then stepped up to the Heliport and rapidly established a basic detainee handling facility. This facility provided the bare minimum in terms of cover, shelter and containment. It was clear to both the MPs operating the facility and CJTF 631 that this facility would not cope with extended detention operations. Given that the law and order situation was far from resolved, the ability to expand detention operations became a priority for JTF 631.

The immediate task of TU 631.2.6 was to conduct a reconnaissance of the former Dili District Police Station located in the Caicoli district of Dili. The Dili District Police Station was in a state of extreme disrepair. Every office had been looted and equipment from its former owners, the Policia National Timor Leste (PNTL) was strewn throughout general rubbish and waste.

After a quick staff assessment of the Dili District Police Station and the strain being felt at the Heliport, orders were struck to step the detention centre up to the new site at Caicoli. Some 36 hours later, the JTF 631 Detention Centre (DC) was commissioned. As has already been mentioned, the state of the DC was appalling. Weeks of hard self help work in conjunction with RAE staff saw the facility gradually improve and become a functioning workplace.

During the next four months, many hundreds of civilian detainees were processed by the staff of TU 631.2.6 working in conjunction with JTF 631, the International Police Timor Leste, the United Nations Police (UNPOL) and various agencies of the Government of Timor Leste.

One of the many successes achieved by TU 631.2.6 was the rapid reinvigoration of the criminal jurisdiction of the Dili District Tribunal. A few days after commencing operations, staff from TU 631.2.6, co-ordinated by the TU 631.2.6 Legal Officer, Major Richard Cawte, AALC were providing court support to judges, prosecutors and public defenders at ad hoc court rooms located within the DC. This initiative saw MP court staff assisting Portuguese judicial staff conduct hearings applying the Penal Code of Indonesia and the TL Criminal Procedure Code, itself being adopted from a similar code in the country of Guinea Bissau. Overcoming many difficulties, not the least of which being a massive language barrier, the men and women of TU 631.2.6 provided a safe and efficient venue for the return of legal proceedings in Dili.

In time, the law and order situation was such that legal proceedings were moved back to the Dili District Prosecutions Office and the Dili District Tribunal. Over 1000 matters were dealt with during the period June to October 2006, with a number of hearings ending in either pre-trial custody or outright sentences at the Becora Prison, a GOTL facility on the outskirts of Dili.

An article of this nature cannot comment on every aspect of the operations of a DC of the size and complexity of the one operated by TU 631.2.6. Each day of operation saw a new challenge, whether it was dealing with high profile house arrests, detainees with leprosy or tuberculosis or facilitating the reception of detainees into the TL prison system, each event was dealt with in a mature and professional fashion and always with good humour.

The staff of TU 631.2.6 received hard earned high praise from a number of quarters from within and external to the ADF. This praise is a testament to the fundamental qualities and trainings of MP JNCOs that stand them apart from their colleagues in the wider army in policing operations. They are of course soldiers first; but being police second makes MP the force of choice in the type of operation conducted by the ADF under the aegis of OP ASTUTE.

Photo Gallery

Members from TU 631.2.6

AN SM's View

JTF 631.2.6 Defence Detention Facility (DDF) Timor Leste

“An SM's View”

Sitting here now, on a hot Dili Sunday afternoon looking out from my office window into the DDF compound it is hard to imagine how it was upon our initial arrival some four months ago. The image of our future home and our work place for the deployment was not a pretty sight, nor the stench coming from the open monty drains made it any more inviting.

After landing on 4 Jun 06 we were greeted by the Officer in Charge and members of the Detention Management Team. What a transformation in 90 minutes of flying time to come from Darwin to a third world country being Timor Leste. Being my first operation into Timor Leste my immediate thoughts were of Somalia; some 13 years before. Here l was in another third world country that was allowing its self too self destruct with East against West clashes resulting in murder, injury and destruction of property.

Upon arrival at our new home which was the old Timor Leste Police building our initial time was spent in a frantic; but controlled clean up to commence receiving detainees within 48 hours from the Military Police section currently supporting the JTF Battle Group since late May 06. This was achieved with a lot of hard work and effort by one and all and within a short period the compound / buildings being our work places and accommodation areas were habitable.

In the course of my normal duties l was given the responsibility of supervising four to five locally employed civilians (LEC's) on a daily basis. The LECs' were on contract to defence through Dili waste and maintained the required cleaning of the outer compound areas and accommodation buildings. Their efforts in keeping the DDF clean did not go unnoticed and l received several comments regarding their conduct and work ethics.

My one regret putting pen too paper is the lack of initial photographs when we first arrived of how the placed looked, compared to today. During the initial clean up the LECs' found three WW11 Grenades in appearance at various stages and a variety of weapons being machettes and spears etc. The first grenade was removed by EOD pers which appeared to be a risk in its self due the grenades condition. The Engineer Sergeant must have had the same thought; as the other two were destroyed in location.

Within the DDF we had a section from AAMC who conducted all the detainee medicals for admission into the cells. They also provided an RAP for JTF 631 personnel and the odd civilian on occasions who were unfortunate enough too be in the wrong place at the wrong time when local gangs were on the rampage. I can not speak highly enough of ‘Doc”, RN and her section in their attitude and professionalism towards their task.

Up until recently we had the Military Working Dog section accommodated with us. Unfortunately the MWD section was relocated to the ANZAC Battle Group at the H-POD and in particular MWD ‘Bevis' who was befriended by one and all within the DDF was sadly missed as he was a favorite amongst all of us.

To date the DDF has processed numerous detainees, provided local security and conducted additional taskings on 24/7 basis with very few issues. In closing, I wish to express my sincere thanks to one and all for maintaining a sense of humour and morale over the past four months. Please continue the focus and task at hand. Safe soldiering.

Cheers,

PL SM

DDF