Fifth NZ soldier dies in East Timor

By CATHY ARONSON

A New Zealand soldier has died in East Timor, the fifth since troops were committed to the international peacekeeping force three years ago.

Private Dean Russell Johnston, a 20-year-old movements operator, was found dead near the United Nations Obrigado Barracks in Dili at 3.45am yesterday.

The United Nations military police are investigating, but do not believe he died as a result of military action or that anyone else was involved.

New Zealand Joint Forces would not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding his death.

The Joint Forces said Private Johnston was not on leave and it was unknown when he was last seen on Saturday night.

He was two months into his first six-month tour to East Timor with the 6th New Zealand Battalion Group. He joined the Army as an 18-year-old in February 2000.

Joint Forces have offered counselling to the 20 other New Zealand soldiers at his National Command Element.

The National Command Element is responsible for liaison between New Zealand and East Timor.

Joint Forces spokesperson flying officer Karen Hill said the death had devastated his comrades.

"They are pretty cut-up. It's fairly traumatising for them."

Defence Minister Mark Burton said the Government extended its deepest sympathy to Private Johnston's family and comrades.

Defence Force chief Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson said the force regretted the loss of any serviceperson's life.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family."

Private Johnston was originally from Christchurch and was based at Linton Army Camp before his deployment to East Timor in May.

His death brings the number of New Zealand servicemen deaths in East Timor to five since troops were committed in 1999.

* November 1999: Warrant Officer Tony Michael Walser, aged 37, died when the road collapsed under the truck he was driving in Suai.

* April 2000: Staff Sergeant William Edward White died when the Unimog truck he was in plunged down a 30m bluff in Suai.

* July 24, 2000: Private Leonard William Manning, 24, was shot by pro-Indonesian militia near Suai in East Timor in July 2000.

* March 2001: Private Boyd Reagan Henare Atkins, a 19-year-old infantry soldier, died in a swimming accident while at a military recreation centre near Dili in East Timor.


Feature: Indonesia and East Timor

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