PM flags Dili rebalancing
Volume 11, No. 48, July 27, 2006
By Cpl Mike McSweeney

Crowd-pleaser: PM John Howard surrounded by troops at Camp Phoenix in Dili. Photo by Sgt John Carroll.

PRIME Minister John Howard indicated there would be a reduction and rebalancing of Australian forces in Timor-Leste when he visited the country with CDF ACM Angus Houston on July 18.

HMAS Kanimbla, a Black Hawk and two LCM8s departed on July 19, with some other force elements to follow in the coming weeks.

“It’s clearly not necessary to have as many people here now… as we had a couple of months ago… because we have done our job and we have been very effective,” Mr Howard said.

Stepping from an RAAF 737, PM Howard was warmly greeted by newly-appointed Timor-Leste Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta before meeting Australian personnel.

CO JTF 631 Brig Mick Slater briefed Mr Howard, who later met with task force personnel, signing a David Boon doll and participating in a photo with 3CSR signallers.

Mr Howard had separate meetings with Timor-Leste President Xanana Gusmao and PM Jose Ramos Horta and also visited with UN Special Representative Timor-Leste Anis Bajwa.

Australian elements concentrated at Camp Phoenix for lunch with the PM and CDF, followed by an address by Mr Howard.

“Can I just again express on behalf of the Australian people my admiration for the work of the ADF,” PM Howard said. “I thank the Brigadier for the great job that he and the men and women of his force have done and the respect they’ve brought to our country and also not forgetting for a moment the work of the Federal Police.”