Kiwi troops hit streets where gangs wreak havoc

New Zealand soldiers were disarming gangs within hours of arriving in the country

DILI - New Zealand troops yesterday began patrolling some of Dili's toughest districts, tasked with bringing gangs of thugs to heel in townships razed by the violence that still continues to erupt in East Timor's capital.

On Wednesday night, the day before D Company of Burnham-based 2nd/1st Battalion took over from Australian infantry at Becora, just east of Dili, locals faced down youths intent on setting fire to the local market.

Late yesterday about 10 fires erupted on the eastern fringes of the city.

On the other side of Dili, smoke yesterday again drifted above the western Comoro district, where a New Zealand reconnaissance party disarmed rival gangs just hours after arriving in the country.

A large fire also erupted near the New Zealand Embassy, an area housing other embassies and the homes of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and other senior figures.

Youths armed with long machetes were again on the streets, exploiting the chaos that now appears to have at least some direction from opposing political factions in the power struggle between President Xanana Gusmao and Mr Alkatiri.

Martial arts gangs and other street thugs identifying themselves as "7" , Scorpions and similar names, are believed to have been paid to foment violence, or to pay back past debts.

The political crisis that has matched social disintegration still has not been resolved, despite the assumption of defence and security powers by Mr Gusmao.

Mr Alkatiri claims to still hold control of the Army and internal security and has warned of mass demonstrations in the streets of Dili if he is removed from office. Yesterday, the Herald learned that Foreign Minister Dr Jose Ramos Horta had been given the defence portfolio.

Rebel soldiers based in the hills outside the capital say that there will be no political solution until Mr Alkatiri is dismissed.

Yesterday Mr Gusmao urged peace and reconciliation, the rejection of ethnic rivalries between east and west, and a new mood of forgiveness that would allow the nation to rebuild from the ashes of hundreds of torched homes, businesses and other buildings.

A group of women and children demonstrated outside the Governor's Palace, the centre of Government in Timor Leste, singing and chanting to demand peace.

Nearby, grain stores were again besieged by people intent on repeating earlier looting.

Tens of thousands of people still live in refugee camps and depend on rice rations to survive.

Yesterday morning new Pinzgauer light operating vehicles of the New Zealand Army rumbled through Dili for the first time, heading for some of the worst trouble spots in the city.

At Becora, troops led by Major Eugene Whakahoehoe took over from Charlie Company of Australia's 3RAR battle group, inheriting an area that is regarded as one of the toughest in the city. Major Whakahoehoe said the New Zealanders would continue the job of tracking down violent gangs to help restore peace and stability, but said much had already been done by the Australians.

People were moving again in the streets, and shops were re-opening.

And he said he doubted if the New Zealanders would need to use their guns to face down the gangs of slightly-built Timorese: "You put a 100kg Kiwi into the middle of a crowd and it's quite easy to disperse a crowd."

Lieutenant Bevan Elmiger, a 25-year-old from Tauranga on his first overseas deployment, said it was quieter on the streets yesterday.

However, the troops were aware that as soon as they turned their backs, the young gangs could resume their burning and looting.

"When we go, within 10 minutes there's a fire," he said.

It was not the same East Timor for the troops who were there between 1999 and 2002, Lieutenant Elmiger said.

"They say it's a much different place. There's a lack of infrastructure, nothing is working."

Becora resident Mario Jajo, sitting under a tree with a dozen of his neighbours, was pleased to see the New Zealanders on patrol.

"It's good they're here. We feel secure because with the presence of the Kiwis we can now feel safe."

The people of Becora remember New Zealanders in 1999, he said.

"We trust the Kiwis. With their presence today we feel safe and secure."

But much of Becora has been laid waste, scarred by burned houses, stacks of flame-scarred corrugated iron roofing, and the other debris of arson and looting.

Australian soldiers led by Major Jeff Frisby had been there for about five days, patrolling streets where people feared for their lives and property as law and order broke down around them.

Major Frisby said his men had been greeted by violence, looting and arson.

But he said most of the locals had welcomed his troops and were "very positive" about their deployment as they set about restoring order and breaking up the gangs.

They had identified and detained several suspected ringleaders.

- Additional reporting NZPA