Australia says reports of more East Timor violence

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Parts of East Timor are reported to be
descending into violence, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer said on Tuesday as he again pledged to send military
help if needed.

A Reuters photographer in the East Timorese capital Dili
said there were reports of shooting earlier on Tuesday between
East Timorese soldiers and former comrades who were sacked,
supported by their sympathizers, on the outskirts of the city.

Four people were killed and hundreds of East Timorese fled
their homes when protests by the disgruntled soldiers initially
turned violent late last month. Protesters burned cars, threw
rocks at police and officers fired into the crowd.

“The government remains concerned about the situation in
East Timor,” Downer told parliament in Canberra.

“We have prepositioned some military assets in northern
Australia, including naval vessels, aircraft and even some
troops, to enable a rapid response to assist with evacuation or
some other form of assistance if it’s required.”

The cash-strapped East Timor government dismissed more than
500 soldiers earlier in April, prompting demonstrations joined
by people the government says have broader motives.

“Reports we have been getting yesterday and today are that
parts of Dili and other parts of the country are descending
into violence and there are reports of injury and property
damage,” Downer said.

Australia led a U.N.-backed intervention force to East
Timor in 1999 to quell violence by pro-Indonesian militias
after East Timorese voted for independence from Jakarta. An
estimated 1,000 people died in the violence.

UN peacekeepers left a year ago and the UN mission of 130
administrators, police and military advisers was scheduled to
finish in East Timor on May 20, but was extended for a month
after the riots.

“East Timor is a young country and it is inevitably …
coming to terms with the responsibility of democracy and
government,” Downer said. “I hope this difficult situation can
be resolved quickly and obviously … peacefully.”

“But Australia stands willing and ready to help, to bring
about a return to stability, if that help at any time is
needed.”

Australia’s military deployment to East Timor soured
relations with Indonesia for several years.

Australia already has troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan,
the Middle East, Sudan and the Solomon Islands.

It sent nearly 400 troops and 70 police to the Solomons
late last month after the election of a new prime minister
sparked violent protests and the impoverished South Pacific
nation asked for help to restore law and order.

(Additional reporting by Liro da Foseca in DILI)