DATE=9/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NEW ZEALAND / EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253991
BYLINE=JANICE APLIN
DATELINE=WELLINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The first New Zealand troops participating in
the United Nations multinational peacekeeping force in
East Timor left for Australia, Friday, to prepare for
deployment. The first wave of Special Air Services
troops number a mere 50, but -- as Janice Aplin
reports from Wellington -- they are the forerunner of
what could be New Zealand's biggest military action in
three decades.
TEXT: The New Zealand government has committed close
to one thousand troops and support personnel to East
Timor. If sent, this would be the country's largest
peacekeeping mission since the early 1960's.
In the past, New Zealand troops have served as
peacekeepers and truce monitors in the Middle East,
Angola, and the Yugoslavia. But those situations have
involved only a few personnel.
Prime Minister Jenny Shipley says one reason for the
high-level of commitment is that the long-disputed
Indonesian territory is a near neighbor.
//SHIPLEY ACTUALITY//
New Zealanders cannot stand by and do nothing. Now, in
our region, just a few hours flight to the north of us
we have our own Kosovo. And as the fires of Dili are
extinguished, there is still a flickering flame that
we must keep alive. And that is the flame of
independence in East Timor.
//END ACTUALITY//
New Zealand has one of the largest contingents of the
peacekeeping mission. The unit will play an important
part in the initial stages. They are long-time defense
partners with the Australians, who will be leading the
multi-national force and will be some of the first
troops sent in. A number of Asian nations have
pledged troops, but some are not ready to deploy.
Opposition party leader Helen Clarke says -- despite
the possibility of casualties -- there is overwhelming
political and public support for the mission.
//CLARK ACTUALITY//
The people have voted. The result has to be upheld.
And New Zealand going in as a close regional neighbor
to help that, I think, would be supported by the vast
majority of New Zealanders.
//END ACTUALITY//
But critics warn of the risks involved in the
peacekeeping mission. They point to the size of
Indonesia's military -- numbering in the millions --
to New Zealand's tiny force. Defense officials also
admit the East Timor operation will stretch New
Zealand's defense resources. The country's defense
force is only about eight thousand people.
On the streets of the capital, Wellington, New
Zealanders feel the decision to participate is the
right one.
//VOX POP ACTUALITY//
Man: I'm supportive of it. I think that it's for the
good of the Timorese. You know, we're their trading
partners and I think it's too close to us to ignore.
Woman 1: I think it's a good idea. They should have
done it ages ago. Quite frankly, they said in the
Second World War that the genocide would never happen
again. It's happened three or four times since and
this is another one. I mean, it's sort of ...they
should have done it a lot earlier.
Woman 2: For me I think it's good, I think it's good.
Because New Zealand is a peacemaking country. So, I
think we've got to stick to that and do our bit.
//END ACTUALITY//
Many say the peacekeeping mission has unified the
country and injected a sense of national pride. But
security experts say East Timor could have political
impact. In a country where defense spending is
fiercely criticized, events in Indonesia are likely to
refuel the debate over the role and size of New
Zealand's defense force. (signed)
NEB/JA/GC/ wd
17-Sep-1999 03:10 AM LOC (17-Sep-1999 0710 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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