Troops in Timor at least until May

A third contingent of New Zealand troops will serve in East Timor until at least May.

Defence Minister Mark Burton said yesterday that the troops there now would be replaced in November by 600 soldiers, including about 100 Territorials, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dave Gawn.

They would serve with an Air Force helicopter detachment. Any further deployments would depend on the security situation.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the rotation of troops resulted from an assessment that the United Nations force would be needed for some time.

"We feel a commitment to carry on till at least May 2001. It is really a very difficult situation on the West Timor border, and it's clear to me ... that were New Zealand to withdraw or the UN to withdraw, then the militia would soon be creating the same kind of chaos they did before there was a UN force there."

She also said the New Zealanders were right to be upset about getting lower daily allowances than the Australians.

The troops told visiting MPs from Parliament's foreign affairs, defence and trade committee that they wanted the same as their Australian counterparts, committee chairman Graham Kelly said.

He also denied reports that Australia pressured the Government to keep troops in East Timor longer.

- NZPA

Herald Online feature: the Timor mission

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor