Killed militia member close to NZ base

An armed militia member killed by New Zealand soldiers in East Timor was well inside the Kiwi contingent's area of operations.

The Army is believed to be concerned that the militia member, shot and killed at 11 pm (NZT) on Friday, was only 4.5km north of Suai, where the New Zealand battalion is based.

Army spokesman Captain Mark Richards said the New Zealand troops were not surprised by the presence of armed militia and were prepared for them. "We have trained for this type of thing. They know what to expect over there and they are going about it in the most professional manner they possibly can."

The NZ Defence Force said at the weekend that none of its soldiers was injured in the incident.

Senior national officer Brigadier Lou Gardiner said the militia member was patrolling towards the soldiers when they spotted him.

"The contact was initiated by our soldiers when the militia member approached their position.

"The militia member was clearly identified by his actions in the manner that he was carrying his small-arms weapon. He was then engaged by our soldiers."

Brigadier Gardiner said the soldiers had been stationary at the time to help them observe militia movements from east to west. The troops had received other reports of militia member sightings that day.

It was the second shooting of a militia member by New Zealand troops in the past three weeks.

A militiaman was killed last month after a small group of them approached a hidden New Zealand patrol with their weapons raised.

A radio report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said the militiaman killed on Friday was carrying a military-issue SKS assault rifle and grenades.

He was also wearing a uniform of the Indonesian military.

- NZPA

Herald Online feature: the Timor mission

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor