Timor mission could require boost to forces

Regular armed forces or Territorial numbers will need to increase if New Zealand wants to maintain its level of commitment in East Timor for more than a year, says defence chief Air Marshal Carey Adamson.

"There are only two ways to do it: you can have a bigger standing force or a bigger Territorial force," he told Parliament's foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee yesterday.

A third battalion, comprising 100 Territorials and 470 regular forces staff, began a six-month deployment to Timor this month.

Consideration is now being given to sending a fourth or fifth rotation.

"If we have to, we can do two more rotations," Air Marshal Adamson said. "But after that we will face a serious problem in reconstituting the professional skills in our armed forces, especially in our Army."

Expanding the reserve force would mean ensuring "you have something in place to make sure you can get it when you need it."

The Army was at present relying on goodwill in relation to its Territorials, he said.

"The way it is operating is pretty much on the goodwill both of the individual troops themselves, who are prepared to forgo their employment for the opportunity to take part in this, and also on the goodwill of the employers.

"This is an issue that ... is going to have to be dealt with in the medium term."

Territorials were paid less than regular forces in East Timor because they did not receive the allowances, the committee was told.

"There has been an ongoing review of pay and conditions ...

"We'll be able to put a range of options in front of the Government next week and go from there," said Air Marshal Adamson.

The Air Force is also contributing in East Timor, providing five helicopters and up to 70 personnel.

"The Air Force ... is proposing to change its rotation period ... from the current six-month deployment down to a two-month deployment," he said.

"The Air Force feels that if they can come down to a two-month deployment then they can virtually sustain themselves indefinitely."

Air Marshal Adamson told the committee that security problems were likely to continue in Timor.

"Until such time as the militias are disarmed and those camps are shut down, there's going to continue to be an ongoing problem with militias.

"I don't believe the situation on the border will change a lot until there is the development of an indigenous peace force in East Timor."

He had no idea how long it would take to establish such a force as that process had not yet begun.

"Responsibility lies with the United Nations to get this task completed.

"Australia and Portugal have been involved in working out how this force may or may not be raised," said Air Marshal Adamson.

"I imagine it would be at least two years - it could be much longer.

"It depends on how fast a training programme can be put in place and how effective it is."

- NZPA

Herald Online feature: Timor mission

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor