SHOTS END TIMOR RAID – Diggers thwart enclave incursions

Following is a page-1 story from ARMY Newspaper published 3 February 2000
By Corporal Brian Hartigan – now CONTACT Editor

OECUSSI, JAN 19, 2000: Soldiers from 3RAR found themselves in contact with militia forces for the third time in as many days today with two other serious non-shooting incidents also being reported.

CAPTION: Private Mathew Guy, A Company, 3RAR, keeps a keen eye on suspected militia activity across the border in West Timor, from East Timor’s Oecussi Enclave. Photo by Corporal Brian Hartigan.

Following six weeks of probing and testing INTERFET defences, it seemed the Sakunar militia was finally mounting on offensive.

CO 3RAR Lt-Col Peter Singh said he believed the actions of the past three days were part of a campaign that had been unfolding for a month and a half.

“I would class the militia activities over the months of December and early January as a probing and intelligence-gathering phase,” he said.

“I believe they have now stepped up their campaign, targeting the locals, to prove to them that they are stronger than INTERFET.”

He said that as the militia had stepped up its intensity and frequency of incursions, 3RAR had responded likewise.

“Our tactics are to observe the militia as soon as they come across the border and then insert our patrols between the militia and the people of Oecussi.

“In other words we have to advance on them and intercept them physically.

“Conducting such tactics requires all our sections to perform to the highest level of discipline and to the highest level of soldierly and infantry skills.”

He said the fact that the militia had demonstrated a willingness to open fire had increased the level of hazard on the operation.

“But the only time we will fire on them is if our lives or the lives of the locals are directly threatened.

“As far as I am concerned, 3RAR is proactive in getting between the people of Oecussi and the militia incursions.

“We have adequate troops here to deal with the threat level.”

Lt-Col Singh said there were two types of militia coming across the border – one being a large amorphous mass carrying spears and machetes who crossed the border to terrorise the locals.

“Then there are smaller protection parties of six to eight armed with rifles who have a different kind of bearing and seem to have been drilled to fire when we approach.

“Some of their weapons are standard Indonesian military issue and I would describe them as a paramilitary-trained organisation with a low grade of proficiency.”

No Australian casualties were recorded during the actions of the past three days, but six East Timorese and one militia were confirmed injured.

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3RAR morale riding high

3RAR is currently working hard in East Timor, putting many years of training into practice and savouring every minute of its first operation in 26 years.

RSM 3RAR WOl Mick Hill said he believed morale in the battalion was very high and that being overseas doing what they had trained so hard for had a lot to do with it.

“Personally I have been in the army for 26 years and I have trained all my life for this exact thing — being on operations,” he said.

“A lot of the new guys have been on a steep learning curve but they know that what they have learned in Australia in preparation for getting over here has worked quite well.”

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Border-incident roundup

MAHATA, JAN 17, 1130hrs, A Coy AO:
Fifteen to 20 men move towards border, a half section dispatched to observe. Forty to 50 men seen on western side with approximately 60 East Timorese on eastern side. Abuse exchanged. About 1310hrs, 50 males cross border from west. Pipe-guns and Lee Enfield .303s sighted. Two houses burned and 10 shots fired. Four East Timorese wounded. Permission to enter border exclusion one given. Two patrols sweep down to incident site. Militia withdraw.

PASSABE, JAN 17,1425hrs, B Coy AO:
Twenty to 30 militia carrying at least one G3 assault rifle approach Cpl Alistair Scott’s section. Militia fire about 25 rounds when challenged. Australians return fire. I believe the militia have now stepped up their campaign, targeting the locals, to prove to them that they are stronger than INTERFET.

PASSABE, JAN 17, 1SOOhrs, B Coy AO:
Eight militia with at least two rifles abuse and throw stones at East Timorese and Cpl Brett Mathews’ section. Two shots fired at Australians. Two Steyr rounds and one 40mm grenade returned by the Aussies. Militia withdraw. No casualties.

MAHATA, JAN 18, 1445hrs, A Coy AO:
Approx 100 West Timorese cross border. Group intercepted by Cpl Andrew Baker’s section. Three Lee Enfield .303s and two unidentified weapons sighted. Weapons levelled at Australians. Australians fire six shots. Militia withdraw. No casualties.

BOBOMETO, JAN 19, C Coy AO:
Militia fire on village of Saben. Two East Timorese wounded. SSV1 assault rifles used. Shells recovered from scene. Militia withdraw before Australian arrival.

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Border action may continue

MAHATA, JAN 19: The guardians stood ready to meet all comers across the border from West Timor, pitting greater skill and resolve against a rag-tag army of malcontents.

And after three days of activity all round the border in Oecussi, 3RAR is poised for more action.

Cpl Mike Groves, 8 Sept, said he and his men were expecting more militia activity in their area of operations.

“I’m sure we will find out in the next couple of days, but, if they come we’ll be ready for them,” he said.

“They, the militia, have been quite active over the last couple of days and, personally at least, I am expecting them to try again.

“Over the past couple of days, there has been a bit of a hike in militia activity.

“They came and hit B Coy further down on the border and we, had a bit of an incident yesterday about 3km from here.”

He said the CO had increased the company’s presence on the border and increased their patrols to counter the increased threat.

“He also allowed us to come into the exclusion zone, right down to the border, to show our presence.

“I think that will have a good effect.”

Cpl Groves said he thought it was good for the battalion to be used in this operation and he felt great about being in East Timor

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Thanks to Trove for this extract

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