Diggers Disarm 'Gutless Thugs'
news.com.au ^ | 30th May 2006

AUSTRALIAN troops say they are close to controlling security in East Timor, with soldiers confiscating hundreds of weapons from gangs terrorising the capital.

Taskforce commander Brigadier Michael Slater today launched a defence of his soldiers' efforts to rid Dili of the "gutless thugs" and restore order.

World Vision chief Tim Costello yesterday suggested the Australian military was not doing enough to end the chaos in the city and avert a looming humanitarian crisis.

But Brig Slater said his soldiers had confiscated more than 450 high-powered rifles, handguns, shotguns and grenades in 48 hours from gangs which have looted and burned homes in the capital.

"The gangs have been out there trying to settle old scores - they're into payback," Brig Slater said on Channel 9 this morning.

"They are largely gutless thugs that have some very sophisticated weapons.

"We've been taking the weapons off them and they are losing their freedom of action because we have so many soldiers out there providing the security amongst the population.

"It's not fixed but we're getting there, and we're getting there probably quicker than anyone could have reasonable expected."

Rebel Timorese soldiers and police were handing in their weapons, he said, and security in Dili was improving quickly.

"The security situation in the city is such that people are now out and they're walking around," Brig Slater said.

"There is food in the shops, there are groups of ... refugees who are throughout the city, but they are leaving those concentration areas, going to the shops through the day, buying food and moving back by night to the refugee concentration areas because they feel safety near the soldiers.

"There are some very large groups of internally displaced people - there is no humanitarian crisis here.

"There is the potential for one if we don't sort out the security."

Control over the violence in Dili would happen sooner than expected, he said, but he did not give a time frame.

"The problem here is not one that the military can solve. The problem here is one that the Timorese have to solve, their government has to solve," Brig Slater said.

"But from a military perspective, the security issue I think will be brought under control fairly quickly because the people here so desperately want it and I think realise it is time to sit down and talk."

The fledgling nation has been plagued by unrest since Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri sacked 600 soldiers, about 40 per cent of its armed forces, in March after they protested over alleged discrimination against soldiers from the east of the country.

President Xanana Gusmao met with Mr Alkatiri and his cabinet yesterday for crisis talks and is expected to announce a Cabinet reshuffle today.

 
Show of force ... Australian troops keep the peace in Dili