NZ Army bans sex with Timorese

Local women are out of bounds for troops on peacekeeping duties in East Timor.

The Army has told New Zealand troops that sex with local women is forbidden, partly because of the international fear of spreading the Aids virus.

However, spokesman Major Hugh Macaslen said that most of the Kiwi troops in Timor were married or had long-term partners and were faithful. Troops were tested for HIV before they left New Zealand and three months after they returned.

Major Macaslen said that New Zealand shared the United Nations' concerns about the risk Aids posed to the military and its worries about the virus' spread.

The United Nations, fearing that its peacekeepers around the world were at risk from Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases, recently bought 1.5 million condoms to issue to the troops.

Of these, 500,000 were earmarked for East Timor, but Major Macaslen said none of the United Nations condoms had been issued to New Zealand soldiers in the territory.

- NZPA