Timor relief
Volume 11, No. 52, September 21, 2006
By Lt Cameron Jamieson

Kit check: WO2 Trevor Whish prepares his kit after arrival in Dili. Photo by Maj Graeme Henley.

THE face of Army operations in Timor-Leste has undergone a change following the handover from Battle Group Faithful to Timor-Leste Battle Group 1.

The arrival of the 6RAR-based battle group, led by CO 6RAR Lt-Col Scott Goddard, follows the deployment on September 9 of a company group from 1RAR.

Taking into account the recent return of logistic personnel and the additional deployment of the 1RAR element, the ADF strength in Timor-Leste will remain at 925. The 1RAR soldiers were initially deployed on security tasks within Dili, but have been redeployed to outlying areas where they will conduct security and denial operations.

The changeover of Australian troops comes after the departure of the Malaysian military contingent at the end of August. JTF631 is now comprised of Australian and New Zealand troops.
Comd JTF631 Brig Mick Slater said he was pleased with the conduct of the changeover.

“The relief in place is going exceptionally well. A lot of planning has gone into it, and we’re doing it at a steady pace as there’s no need to rush things.,” Brig Slater said.

“The arriving soldiers are well prepared and are being exceptionally well briefed by those they are taking over from. We are then getting people home smoothly and quickly as they are relieved from their job.”

Brig Slater said the situation in Timor-Leste had changed dramatically since the deployment of the international force earlier this year.

“When we arrived there was chaos all over Dili and a lot of tension throughout the outer districts,” he said. “These days the tensions in the outer districts are all but gone, and there is certainly a more stable environment in Dili.”

Brig Slater said while the police mission in Timor-Leste was now UN-run, the JTF’s mission and tasks hadn’t changed. However, the focus was now on helping the UN police force take primacy for security in Timor-Leste.

“The role of the military becoming involved in direct action is largely over,” he said. “This is really a police matter now.”

Brig Slater said the recent escape of Alfredo Reinado and 56 other prisoners from Becora prison has had minimal impact on the JTF’s operations.

“The escape is really a side-show compared to the important issues and the difficulties this country is trying to deal with,” he said.

“Timor-Leste has to sort out its problems, and there are security issues within the community that result from long-standing civil disputes.

“Fortunately the ADF has done a great job of providing a stable environment for them to sort out these problems.”