Posted on 03/20/2005 8:18:48 AM PST by SmithL
AUSTRALIAN soldiers drew arms to protect themselves from Jordanian peacekeepers after a Digger blew the whistle on other Jordanian soldiers' sexual abuse of East Timorese boys.
Corporal Andrew Wratten had to be evacuated and Australian commandos sent to protect Diggers in Oecussi, an East Timorese province in Indonesian West Timor, after he told the UN of the pedophilia that occurred in May 2001.
The Australians drew their Steyr assault rifles after being confronted by Jordanians armed with M-16s, in an escalation of verbal threats triggered by the betrayal of Corporal Wratten by a Jordanian officer in the Dili headquarters of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor.
Corporal Wratten, who was working at a fuel dump in the enclave, was told by a group of children that Jordanian soldiers had offered food and money in exchange for oral sex and intercourse.
The allegations involved East Timorese minors, all boys, the youngest of them just 12 years old.
"Wratten informed PKF (peacekeeping force) that he had been receiving complaints from local children about Jorbatt (Jordan Battalion) abuse," said a senior UN official who was based in Oecussi at the time.
"A Jordanian officer in HQ informed Jorbatt that he had ratted on them. Wratten and his guys manning the helo (helicopter) refuelling pad in Oecussi town started getting threatened.
"There was one occasion where Aussie Steyrs were pointed at Jorbatt and Jorbatt M-16s pointed at Aussies."
A secret report into the abuse, obtained by The Australian, led to the expulsion of two Jordanian peacekeepers after an investigation ordered by then UNTAET chief, the late Sergio Vieira de Mello, in July 2001.
East Timorese human rights workers have confirmed the story. However, retired Australian major-general Roger Powell, the deputy UN force commander at the time, did not return The Australian's calls.
"As far as I understand, De Mello was very sensitive at the time to the harm such reports would have on the reputation of UNTAET, PKF - and by default himself," said one Western security analyst, based in East Timor in 2001.
Jordan's key role in Middle East peace negotiations added extra sensitivity.
In July 2001, a UN police specialist child interview team flew to Oecussi and spoke to 10 witnesses, including seven minors and three adults.
"The unacceptable sexual conduct alleged was that a minor had sperm around his mouth," the resulting report says.
The board of inquiry found in its report that Jordanian troops regularly offered food and money in exchange for sexual favours from women and boys, including the procuring of prostitutes from across the border in West Timor.
It found it was highly probable that widespread sexual misconduct had occurred after the Jordanians took over from the highly regarded Australian paratroop battalion in early 2000.
The Sexual abuse of people subject to UN rule is not unusual at all. It is very seldom reported though. Anytime you place armed persons in a place where they are the "law" and where they are subject to no law, this happens.
Peace and security are guaranteed by the private ownership of firearms. Our founding fathers knew that and the second amendment was the result.
"Anytime you place armed persons in a place where they are the "law" and where they are subject to no law, this happens.
Not true. Americans do not.
Where is the outrage and calls for prosecution of this cover up specialist? What is his government doing about his conduct? Unfortunately he is just the kind of self preservation scum that ends up in charge of UN operations. Doesn't matter what happens under his command as long as he can cover up or otherwise dodge responsibility. Thanks to the honorable men in the Australian military who reported this.
U.N. Peace Keepers -- become Piece Seekers, when the troops are African or Muslim...
All cultures are NOT equal...
Most U.N. members are not ready for the current century --- they're still TURD World entities...
Too bad the Aussies didn't open fire on the Jordians "looking for trouble"....
Folks who point weapons in my direction, can expect lead in their direction....
Semper Fi
UNICEF - Child protectionThe United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF - works for children's rights, their survival, development and protection, guided by the Convention on the ... www.unicef.org/protection/index_25413.html - 18k - Mar 18, 2005 -
Oh yes, praise to the UN!!
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I say we airlift all the Palestinians to Jordan and let them do whatever they do.
THE UN IS GOING THE WAY OF THE OLD LEAGUE OF NATIONS EXCEPT IT IS EXSTREMELY CORRUPT
If I were the Jordanians, I would stick with trying to pick on pre-teen boys from a third-world hell-hole instead of threatening the Aussies. They tend to get offended when M-16's are pointed in their general direction and a troop of Aussie Girl Scouts could wipe the desert with the entire Jordanian military . . . and still have time to sell some cookies to pay for their adventure.
Its ok I think he already fired one man over this so he's handled the situation /sarcasm off.
Why do we let despotic regimes participate in peacekeeping missions?
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