Howard sends warships to E Timor

The Weekend Australian ^ | 13th May 2006 | Mark Dodd

[naturalman1975]

THREE Australian navy ships have been ordered to strife-torn East Timor, and a fourth is on stand-by, as increasing unrest forced the UN to extend its mission in Dili by a month.

John Howard confirmed yesterday that two amphibious transport navy ships - Manoora and Kanimbla - had been deployed to waters off East Timor as a contingency measure.

The Weekend Australian understands a third vessel - the amphibious heavy-lift ship Tobruk - has joined the taskforce, while the missile frigate Adelaide is standing by in Darwin if needed. Asked about reports in other newspapers that armoured personnel carriers and 450 troops would be loaded on to the transports in Darwin, a spokesman for Defence Minister Brendan Nelson replied: "These ships normally don't travel empty."

The Prime Minister said the pre-positioning of the warships was required in case of a request for assistance from the East Timor Government, but none had been made so far.

"We have had absolutely no requests, but I repeat that what the military does, quite sensibly, is to use its assets in such a way that if we were to receive a request, we'd be able to respond," Mr Howard said before leaving for Washington.

That request may come sooner rather than later. Diplomatic sources said a challenge to East Timorese Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri would be launched at next week's national congress of the ruling Fretilin party.

The source said a move to oust Dr Alkatiri would be made by UN ambassador Jose Luis Guterres. It would be supported by central committee members, including Jorge Teme, the former ambassador to Australia, and former development minister Abel Ximenes, who resigned this week over the riots that broke out in Dili last month.

"This will take place while hundreds of armed soldiers and police beyond the control of the Government are watching with considerable interest, less than an hour's drive away from Dili," the source said.

"One of the big concerns right now is there's a whole lot of guns and ammunition that went with the police up to Ermera."

The Government is negotiating with representatives of about 590 rebel soldiers to end their five-month protest over poor conditions and ethnic favouritism. The protest exploded in rioting on April 28-29 that left at least five dead, dozens injured and more than 60 buildings damaged, including the Government Palace.

Government attempts to restore calm have failed and an estimated 20,000 people have fled Dili, including dozens of heavily armed police who support the army rebels.

As the bloodshed forced the UN to extend by 30 days its UNOTIL peace-building mission, former colonist Portugal deployed a unit of riot police to Dili for the conference.

In Canberra, the Department of Foreign Affairs updated its travel warning, advising people to avoid unnecessary trips to East Timor.

So far there has been no request from Dr Alkatiri for Australian intervention, although political tensions have risen dramatically over the past 48 hours. Sources said the country's head of security, the Australian-trained Ricardo Ribeiro, was hunkered down at home after receiving death threats.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley described the deployment as "precautionary" and "sensible".

"This is our area, it's our back door and it's a difficult back door. It's not getting any easier; it's another good reason for not bogging ourselves down in Iraq," he said.

[naturalman1975]

HMAS MANOORA

HMAS KANIMBLA

HMAS TOBRUK

HMAS ADELAIDE