EAST TIMOR: FIRST MEMBERS OF MULTI-NATIONAL PEACE FORCE BEGIN TO ARRIVE IN DILI.

Record ID: 350050

  • Title: EAST TIMOR: FIRST MEMBERS OF MULTI-NATIONAL PEACE FORCE BEGIN TO ARRIVE IN DILI.
  • Date: 20th September 1999
  • Summary: DILI, EAST TIMOR (SEPTEMBER 20, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/CU: DILI AIRPORT (2 SHOTS) 0.16 2. GV/SCU: TROOPS WAITING ON TARMAC (2 SHOTS) 0.32 3. LV/PAN/GV: AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE PLANE LANDS/ FILLY ARMED SOLDIERS DISEMBARK (8 SHOTS) 1.50 4. GV/MV: MULTINATIONAL FORCE STANDING AT THE TARMAC (3 SHOTS) 2.02 5. GV: VARIOUS OF
  • Embargoed: 5th October 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DILI, EAST TIMOR/ DARWIN, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA7W14EDEMN83HERNW39I9XSKRQ
  • Story Text: A multinational force charged with restoring order in
    ravaged East Timor have begun landing in the capital Dili.

    Around 2,000 troops were expected to be on the ground by the
    end of Monday.

    The first Hercules transport plane carrying Australian
    troops arrived in Dili on Monday (September 20).The
    multinational force, which will eventually number about 7,500
    soldiers from more than 20 nations, was created by the United
    Nations with a mandate to use "all necessary measures" to stop
    the killing in East Timor and get help to the tens of
    thousands of refugees.

    The first batch of the troops was spearheaded by an
    Australian rapid deployment unit based in Townsville,
    Queensland.They quickly secured the airport at Dili.

    British Gurkhas were also among the first troops in the
    region.

    On Monday around 20 flights were expected into East Timor
    from the Australian cities of Townsville and Darwin.

    The leader of the United Nations force in East Timor,
    Major-General Peter Cosgrove, said his troops had met no
    resistance on deploying, but that the territory remained a
    risky place.Pro-Jakarta militias who went on the rampage in
    an orgy of killings and destruction following an overwhelming
    vote for independence from Indonesia have vowed to eat the
    hearts of U.N.soldiers.

    Major-General Cosgrove praised the cooperation of the
    Indonesian military who had been accused at one time of
    colluding with the militias.

    In northern Australia, a high-speed catamaran with 500
    troops on board left for East Timor on Monday.And nine
    warships from Australia, New Zealand and Britain, carrying
    soldiers and heavy equipment, were also heading for Dili.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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