Antony's Timor story
November 27, 2000
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I was fortunate to be one of those members selected to serve, having graduated in recent times from the Australian Defence Force Academy.
I am posted to HMAS BETANO, a landing craft heavy, which is operating in and around the Timor region.
When I joined the RAN it was my long term goal to one day deploy to an area of operations (AO) or serve within a UN peacekeeping force.
Training
This has happened so early in my short career.I joined the RAN in 1997 and began training at ADFA.
During my three years at the academy I completed a wife range of military training, completed a BA majoring in politics. I then began my seaman officer training.
Following graduation, I began my first sea time on the now decommissioned HMAS HOBART.
Completing HOBART's decommissioning trip and then being involved in her decommissioning ceremony was a tremendous experience.
My role at sea is as a trainee officer- of- the- watch.
All Australian forces in Timor are serving in the peacekeeping force for the UN under their UNTAET operation titled Operation Tanager.
UNTAET stands for the United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor and its primary role is preparing East Timor for its transition to self governance.
The UN is well on track to conduct the transition but has been hampered by the degree of destruction caused by the militia last year.
BETANO
HMAS BETANO's role in East Timor is the transportation of logistic support equipment to fellow ADF units, the UN and several related organisations, to locations throughout East Timor. |
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The size of the loads varied from 80 to 150 tonnes.
The LCHs have done and continue to do much of their work in the border areas of Suai and Oekussi, where military activity is still prevalent and a security threat is present.
This type of work requires considerable time spent at sea transporting supplies and through this the importance of my training was highlighted.
Many members of defence forces worldwide often say, "I just want to do what I have been trained to do."
While I am very inexperienced in an environment where it serves a purpose, is a rewarding thought.
Security
One aspect of training which helped me prior to arriving in East Timor was my arts degree from the UNSW.Having majored in politics, I primarily studies security issues in the Asia Pacific region, Australian defence and foreign policy and War in International Politics.
Understanding the political background of the nation and the reason for its demise to its present state, enabled me to gain a greater spatial awareness prior to arriving.
It also enabled me to understand the difficulties faced by both Australian peacekeepers and UN workers, when dealing with the varied and wide ranging day to day issues.
During my time in Timor I was able to go into the mountains above Dili and into two villages close to the border, Suai and Oekussi.
Villages
The importance of our work is not fully understood until you visit the small villages where you are flocked because of the stability and sense of safety you have brought to them.
The determination of the East Timorese people, especially the children, is indescribable.
These youngsters have witnesses massacres and seen their villages burnt, yet they still managed to greet us with the chant ,"Ozzie, ozzie, ozzie."
The relationship between the Australians and the people of East Timor is one of mutual respect and true thanks are constantly extended to the Australians.
A visit to the site of the Suai Cathedral massacre, truly brought home the importance of our presence and the reason for our ongoing work.
A great sense of achievement is felt for work all the Australian and international peacekeepers and aid organisations, have completed in Timor, in particular the men and women who served during the INTERFET operations when the area was more unstable and hostilities quite intense.
Having spent time in East Timor with further deployments in BETANO later in the year, I believe the experience and understanding of military operations I have gained, is invaluable.
By MIDN Antony Pisani