Скачать или смотреть PHILIPPINES: TROOPS READY TO JOIN E.TIMOR PEACEKEEPERS

(18 Sep 1999) Tagalog/Eng/Nat

Soldiers from the Philippine Army are due to leave Manila on Saturday to join contingents from other countries in Darwin, Australia.

The first batch of Philippine soldiers will join troops from Singapore, Thailand, Britain, New Zealand and Australia who will form the international peace keeping force bound for East Timor.

The peace keeping force is expected to arrive in Dili the capital of East Timor,on Sunday.

Soldiers from the Philippine Army were farewell by their families and officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday.

One hundred and twenty two troops boarded the Philippine Air Force plane that will take them to Darwin, Australia.

The soldiers were due to leave Manila at 0700 GMT, however their departure was delayed and the planes took off shortly after 0800 GMT.

They will be the first batch of the Philippine contingent to head East Timor.

They will be joining other troops from Singapore, Thailand, Britain, New Zealand and Australia in Darwin, before they make their way to Dili on Sunday.

They are expected to be away for about six months as they help out in efforts to restore peace and order in the troubled territory.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are the advance party of the main group. I am the commander. I have with me some
of the security elements who are medical specialists also. I have doctors with me, dentists, and engineers who will conduct initial planning on what we can do in East Timor.
SUPER CAPTION: Colonel Felix Cabreros, Head, Philippine Humanitarian Support Mission for East Timor

This advance party of soldiers will be involved primarily in security, planning and command functions to lay the ground for the arrival of additional troops.

The Philippines has said it is organising up to two non-combat military battalions, numbering between 6-hundred and 1-thousand 2-hundred personnel for the operation.

SOUNDBITE : (Tagalog)
"My wife and I argued about this, but I explained to her that its part of the job, so she understands it."
Question: How does she feel about it?
"She's sad, but I explained to her that she is only my second love, my first love is to provide service"
SUPER CAPTION: Captain William Ilagan

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said that most of the Philippine contingent eventually would be composed of military engineers, doctors and dentists.

Mercado said sending mostly non-combat troops would be more helpful to East Timor, considering the devastation caused by the killing and looting rampage of pro-Indonesia militias opposed to the massive East Timorese vote for independence.

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