Gunning for change on streets of Dili
Volume 11, No. 45, June 15, 2006
By Cpl Andrew Hetherington

Cache: LCpl Debbie Timmins displays confiscated weapons in Dili.

AS PART of the ADF mission to restore peace and calm to the people of East Timor, members of the Army and Air Force are confiscating a significant number of illegal weapons in Dili.

Sgt Tony Greenwood, 13 MP Pl, said his team had received a large variety of illegal weapons from patrols in Dili.

“We have received over 200 weapons already – Glock pistols, Steyr rifles, F2000 special forces weapons, Remington pump action shotguns, assault rifles and hunting-style rifles,” he said.

Sgt Greenwood said most of the weapons were quite modern and had been well maintained.

“We also have crude weapons like slingshots that fire darts with screws in them and a number of different types of knives,” he said.

At Dili airport, members of G Coy are also confiscating and cataloguing weapons.

OC G Coy Maj Mick Dawson said patrols in the area of the airport had seized “weapons ranging from home-made spears and clubs through to automatic pistols and rounds – blank, live and, in some cases, the lethal dum-dum variety”.

“They were confiscated by Golf Company patrols that interceded in altercations between opposing factions.”

Sgt Tony Greenwood said after the weapons had been collected and catalogued, most would eventually be destroyed. Some would be returned their owners if they came forward to claim them.

The weapons are under 24-hour guard by Sgt Greenwood and his team of nine MPs from 11 MP Pl, Darwin, and 13 MP Pl, Townsville.