Goff to take first-hand look at Dili troubles

Phil Goff

Defence Minister Phil Goff will visit East Timor today to meet Government leaders and New Zealand Defence Force personnel struggling to bring law and order to the capital, Dili.

Mr Goff will discuss the problems that led to the crisis and the role the international peacekeeping force is undertaking.

His visit takes place as New Zealand considers sending police to help military peacekeepers restore order.

Two New Zealand police officers will visit East Timor to assess the situation.

The commander of the Australian peacekeepers, Brigadier Mick Slater, said yesterday that more police were needed, not troops.

"It is about getting criminals off the streets, and police do that better than soldiers," he said in Dili.

New Zealand has about 180 military personnel in Timor. Australia has 1300 troops and scores of federal police. Portugal has sent paramilitary police to help deal with the gangs.

Mr Goff said he would meet East Timor's Defence Minister, Jose Ramos-Horta, and other key leaders.

"My visit is intended to give me a first-hand impression of the tasks our Defence Force is undertaking and what more needs to be done to restore security and stability in East Timor," he said.

"Obviously this will involve not only Defence Force personnel of the countries currently involved but also a wider international role in policing."

Mr Goff said that during his visit he would talk about the need to deal with underlying causes of the crisis, including poverty and unemployment.

"That will be a longer-term but critical task requiring a major international effort," he said. "It is also essential for the East Timorese leadership itself to ensure that political differences are handled constitutionally and do not contribute to the spread of disorder and violence."

Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, visited Dili at the weekend and urged political leaders to find a solution to the situation.

In Dili, the head of the country's Parliament said rebel soldiers had 48 hours to hand in their weapons.

"For those who left their barracks, they must hand in all the guns they have within 48 hours," Francisco Guterres, who holds a post similar to a parliamentary Speaker, said in the legislature.

But an assistant to Dr Ramos-Horta said he had not heard of the time limit.

The minister had been trying to meet the rebel soldiers but ministry spokesman Chris Santos declined to give details of developments, citing the sensitive nature of discussions.

NZ to contribute $1m more aid

New Zealand will contribute an additional $1 million for humanitarian assistance to East Timor.

The Government said $450,000 would be used to pay for half of a 2000 tonne rice shipment, $500,000 would support the humanitarian work of New Zealand non-governmental organisations and the New Zealand Embassy in Dili would use $50,000 to help local communities.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a joint statement the money would bring New Zealand's humanitarian aid during the current crisis to $1.5 million.

The latest figures indicated more than 65,000 people were living in camps around the capital Dili and 35,000 in camps in other districts.

- NZPA