6RAR Bn Gp soldiers endure a downpour during the UNMISET End of Mission Parade at the Heliport in East Timor on Wednesday, May 19.Photo by Capt John McPherson, MPALO-ASCNE No more patrols ... 6RAR Bn Gp members rest on patrol in East Timor, a responsibility many soldiers from across Army have carried out during their rotations. Photo by Capt John McPherson, MPA-LO ANCE

Op Citadel ends in downpour
East Timorese praise UN forces for building 'a culture of peace'

From Captain John McPherson in Dili
A LATE tropical downpour wasn't enough to dampen the impressive ceremonial parade marking the Democratic Republic of East Timor's official assumption of responsibility in policing and external security on Wednesday, May 19.

The parade began in bright sunshine with a large contingent of media from around the world jockeying for position to photograph the march-on of UN flags carried by UN police officers.

UN Police Commissioner Sandi Peisley and the East Timorese Police Commissioner, Paulo Martins, addressed the parade before both sat for the official signing of the police transfer of responsibility documents.

A parade of participating military forces was followed by similar signings between the UN's Special Representative of the Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, East Timor's President, Xanana Gusmao, and Prime Minister Dr Mari Alkatiri.

Mr Sharma praised successive UN missions who he said had "not only successfully maintaining peace and security, but have also trained and nurtured the police and defence forces of Timor Leste".

He said it was an historic occasion and an important milestone in East Timor's history as an independent sovereign state.

Mr Gusmao expressed his profound gratitude to the UN police and peacekeeping forces for helping to build a culture of peace.

He said they had helped to "create a lasting friendship between us".

Although his speech ended in driving rain it did nothing to detract from the significance of the occasion.

The United Nations Mission in Support of East Timor (UNMISET) mandate officially ended at 1159pm Wednesday, May 19, with the follow-on mission - Op Spire - taking up responsibility for a new UN mandate from midnight on May 20.

The new mandate is for a period of six months with an option for a further six months upon review.

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