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AM - Anti-Australian sentiment felt in Dili

[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1775713.htm 

AM - Saturday, 28 October , 2006 08:00:00

Reporter: Anne Barker

ELIZABETH JACKSON: There's growing antagonism towards Australian forces in East Timor, with the country's own armed forces chief calling for an inquiry into the conduct of Australian soldiers in Dili.

As anti-Australian sentiment continues to grow on the streets, Taur Matan Ruak has accused Australia of taking sides in the political crisis that has plagued Dili for six months now.

And the Brigadier General has attacked Australia's decision to retain control over its own troops in defiance of calls to fall in under the United Nations command.

It's the first time the army chief has spoken publicly since the crisis began.

From Dili Anne Barker reports.

ANNE BARKER: Taur Matan Ruak is a widely respected and colourful character in East Timor. For quarter of a century he led the resistance against Indonesia, fighting alongside hundreds of Falantil guerillas in the mountains outside Dili.

But as head of East Timor's armed forces he and his soldiers have been confined to barracks since April, when the first violence erupted between rival army and police factions, and Australian-led forces arrived in the country.

Now, he's attacked Australia's role in Dili.

(Taur Matan Ruak speaking)

"We have become prisoners in our own country", he says. "We are very concerned with the presence of international forces. Despite the number of troops here they still can't resolve the crisis."

The Brigadier-General has effectively accused Australia of taking sides in the ongoing crisis, and claims Australian soldiers even mistreated him by twice detaining him to check his credentials, even though he had complete freedom of movement. He now wants a full inquiry into Australia's conduct in Dili.

(Taur Matan Ruak speaking)

"In the next few days I will be making a written proposal to call for an investigation", he says.

And he's attacked Australia for refusing to operate under the United Nations' control. The army chief says Dili has become a cowboy city, with too many commanders.

(Taur Matan Ruak speaking)

"In a conflict there should not be two commanders", he says, "one saying go down, the other saying go up. The forces here should have only one command, which is the UN."

Brigadier Mal Rerden is the new commander of Australian forces in East Timor. He has rejected Taur Matan Ruak's allegations and denied Australia has in any way taken political sides.

MAL RERDEN: The Australian forces operating in East Timor have been operating in a completely professional manner from the day they arrived here, and they have been conducting themselves in a totally impartial and neutral way in terms of the way they have been dealing with the people of Timor L'este.

ANNE BARKER: Do you think there are any valid grievances, though, against Australian forces?

MAL RERDEN: No, I don't believe there are. I think there are some rumours out there that people, with whatever motivations, are deciding to put out on the street.

ANNE BARKER: Why is there, then, such strong anti-Australian sentiment that seems to be building at the moment?

MAL RERDEN: I don't think I would characterise it as strong. I think that the sentiment that has being identified in the last day or two is an orchestrated one, and I think it's been developed specifically to target us in a certain way.

I think the question that should be asked is who's doing it, and why are they doing it? Who would benefit from the Australian troops not being in Dili, and who would have the opportunity to carry their own agenda if there wasn't a neutral force here on the ground?

ANNE BARKER: And who do you think that is?

MAL RERDEN: I think there's an element of people who basically have their own agendas, and there are criminal elements who would prefer not to have a neutral professional force on the ground.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Brigadier Mal Rerden, the new commander of the Australian forces in East Timor, speaking to Anne Barker.