Image Gallery 2007
31 May 2007
United Nations Peacekeepers' Day
In 2002 a United Nations General Assembly Resolution designated the 29th of May as the ‘International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers’. This was the date in 1948 when the first UN peacekeeping mission began operations in Palestine. Last year more than 100,000 peacekeepers, from 115 countries, were deployed by the United Nations. Peacekeepers ensure that refugees and displaced persons can return to their homes; that ex-combatants are disarmed and integrated into society; that children are taken off the battlefield and sent to school; that people exercise their right to vote in democratic elections; that individuals human rights are protected, not violated, by police forces and judicial systems; and that fields and forests are de-mined so that they can be used to sustain life instead of trigger death.
Members of the Australian Defence Force currently serving in Timor-Leste attended the Dili service held at the UNMIT Headquarters, Obrigado Barracks. Commander Warwick Potter (Royal Australian Navy) laid a wreath on behalf of the Australian Peacekeepers in memory of their fallen colleagues.
Operation ASTUTE is the Australian Government's response to a request from the Government of Timor-Leste to assist in restoring peace to their country.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has deployed to Timor-Leste with a mission to assist the Government and the United Nations to bring stability, security and confidence to the Timorese to allow them to resolve their differences democratically and peacefully.
There are approximately 1100 ADF personnel currently serving in Timor-Leste.
| 20070529adf8095516_031 Australian United Nations Military Liaison Officer Commander Warwick Potter (2nd right) salutes with other United Nations representatives during the National Anthem of Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 29 May 2007) low-res | high-res |
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| 20070529adf8095516_034 Australian United Nations Military Liaison Officer Commander Warwick Potter (2nd right) salutes with other United Nations representatives during the National Anthem of Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 29 May 2007) low-res | high-res |
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| 20070529adf8095516_075 Delivering the oration during the ceremony is the President of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Dr Jose Ramos Horta. (Date taken: 29 May 2007) low-res | high-res |
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| 20070529adf8095516_092 Australian United Nations Military Liaison Officer Commander Warwick Potter lays a wreath in honour of all those peacekeepers that lost their lives in Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 29 May 2007) low-res | high-res |
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| 20070529adf8095516_095 Australian United Nations Military Liaison Officer Commander Warwick Potter salutes after laying a wreath in honour of all those peacekeepers that lost their lives in Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 29 May 2007) low-res | high-res |
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