Documents link NZ forces with Aussie torture probe

By SCOTT MacLEOD

New evidence has emerged of New Zealand forces' possible role in an East Timor gunfight that led to the alleged mistreatment of captured militiamen.

The battle took place on October 6, 1999, when pro-Indonesian militia ambushed a convoy near Suai, wounding two Australians. The Interfet force returned fire, killing two militiamen and capturing 115. Nine were taken to Dili for questioning.

Last September the Australian Defence Force launched a probe into claims that some of its crack SAS troops posed for photos over the dead bodies and mistreated prisoners.

A spokesman for Defence Minister Mark Burton said at the time that there was no suggestion New Zealand troops were involved.

The Herald yesterday obtained papers under the Official Information Act that show "all incidents since September 1999 in which NZDF units have attacked or fired at an enemy, whether real or imagined, and all the incidents in which NZDF units have been attacked."

The papers show that New Zealand forces took part in a gunfight on the same day as the Australian incident, also near Suai, in which two militiamen were also killed. The incidents appear to be the same.

Mr Burton was ill yesterday, but his spokesman, Chris Roberts, initially said "a small number"of New Zealanders had been at the scene. One, a medic, had been commended for his or her actions.

Mr Roberts then phoned back and said the gunfight was only between Australian and militia forces. New Zealanders stationed nearby arrived later to treat the wounded and hunt militiamen.

Mr Roberts said a team of Australian investigators had visited New Zealand to interview an officer "about the illegal detention of people and alleged torture," but there was still no suggestion that New Zealanders were involved in mistreatment.

Australian defence staff failed to return calls, but the Herald understands the New Zealand officer was a major stationed in Dili, where the Australians had interrogated prisoners.

Mr Roberts said: "I can't say categorically that [our soldiers] weren't there, but to the best of our knowledge they came along in a mopping-up operation."

Australian SAS troops were the first to land in East Timor, securing Dili's Komoro Airport before the arrival of other soldiers. New Zealand SAS troops flew in around September 20, 1999. They had been in East Timor for about three weeks at the time of the gunfight.

The Interfet response force comprised Australian, New Zealand and British special forces.

The defence papers released yesterday show dates, times, locations and casualties in all Timor gunfights involving New Zealand forces.

They show that New Zealand forces have taken part in 13 gunfights in East Timor, in which at least five militia fighters died, since the loss of Private Leonard Manning on July 24 and a Nepalese soldier under our command on August 10.

The first skirmish was near Suai Airstrip on September 29, 1999. The last was on October 24, when a militiaman was shot dead at Raiketan River.