Скачать или смотреть EAST TIMOR: UNAMET CHIEF UN MISSION PRESS CONFERENCE

(20 Sep 1999) English/Nat

Hundreds of peacekeepers have landed in East Timor, launching a U-N-approved operation to restore order and help usher the Indonesian province toward independence.

Fanning out across Dili airport and harbour, the heavily armed combat troops from Australia, New Zealand and Britain secured the two vital links for waves of troops and supplies due to flood into East Timor by the end of the day.

The Hercules C-130 cargo plane flying the force into Dili touched down at 0640 local time (2240 GMT), after taking off from a staging area in Australia 360 miles (600 kms) away.

Men wearing the red-and-white bandanas of anti-independence militias were among hundreds of people at the garbage-strewn harbour who watched the armed and helmeted soldiers take positions near destroyed warehouses.

As the force grew and spread across the city toward the wharf, columns of black smoke from burning houses billowed over Dili, apparently from fresh fires.

Within hours of their arrival - and in the first incident of its kind - peacekeepers disarmed two militiamen who rode into the harbour area on a motorbike.

The two offered no resistance and sped away after troops ordered them to leave.

Joining the troops on the flight from Australia were senior United Nations officials.

U-N Mission to East Timor (UNAMET) spokesman David Wimhurst said the small party of U-N and humanitarian officials flew to Dili to clear the way for the full return of the mission.

Headed by UNAMET chief Ian Martin, they will reinforce a core of U-N officials who stayed on in Dili, sheltering in the well-fortified Australian consulate building.

Most UNAMET staff were forced to evacuate to Darwin in the violence which swept East Timor after the territory voted in favour of independence.

The UN's first job is to get food and medical aid by road to tens of thousands of refugees forced from their homes by militia violence.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think they acted very quickly by the standards of how soon you can get a political consensus. Nothing is ever quickly enough, people on the ground who urgently need help. But I think the speed both of Security Council decision making of the multi national force coming and the mobilisation of the humanitarian agencies has been very impressive."
SUPER CAPTION: Ian Martin, UNAMET Chief

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We expect to join the force in two days and be part of the humanitarian support mission."
SUPER CAPTION: Philippine Commander Cimatu

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