BOMBING WEEK - Royal New Zealand Air Force

WN 06-0114-01
Adapting to change is something NZDF Offi cers assigned to work with the
UN have come to anticipate – expecting the unexpected is part of their
training. So, when SQNLDR Robin Chambers fi rst arrived in Timor Leste
on 22 June 2005 for a 6-month posting with the UN he wasn’t too fazed
to fi nd that his assumed tasking had changed. He had expected to follow
in the footsteps of his predecessor, SQNLDR Karen Mead, with a posting
to one of Timor Leste’s three border sectors - Bobonaro, Covalima and
Oecussi - as a Military Training Advisor (MTA). Instead, due to an internal
reorganization he was selected by the Chief Military Training Offi cer (CMTA)
to fi ll the Dili-based position of G4-Logistics.
The G4’s primary role is to provide logistical support to the newly-created
Military Training Advisor’s Group (MTAG) HQ and to support MTAs in
the Sectors in the absence of support from the Regional Support Offi cer
(RSO) level. When the RSOs were disestablished in July central control
passed to Dili and increased the G4’s liaison with Sectors to meet their
logistics needs.
Although Logistics is not his background SQNLDR Chambers says ‘it was a
relatively straight-forward process to work with the UN Civilian Staff. They
were very professional and most had an excellent grasp of English.’
SQNLDR Chambers says the G4 position gave him ‘the best of both worlds
– with the relative ‘comforts’ of living in Dili and the chance to get out to
one of the three border Sectors twice a month. He worked alongside two
other NZDF personnel – two NZ Army Majors (MAJ Pomana, MAJ Gray)
acting as advisors to the Timor Leste Army and WO2 Shaw who worked
as a small arms instructor at Metenaro.
SQNLDR Chambers says the Timor Leste economy is in a downturn with
the decreasing number of restaurants from the downsizing of UN activity
a clear indicator that the business sector is hurting. While he has high
hopes the fl edgling economy will recover ‘everything is downsizing right
now,’ he says. ‘The country’s offshore energy reserves (estimated to be
worth $50billion) and its potential as a tourist destination paint a more
rosy picture for the future,’ he said.
The primary goal of UN Police and the 15 MTAs is building the capacity
and confi dence of Timor Leste’s 280-strong Border Protection Unit. Within
12 months it is hoped the BPU will be fi rmly established as a viable agency.
Specifi cally the MTAs/Un Police are instructing BPU members in border
policing skills; investigation of border-related crimes; day-to-day management
skills; and cross border management issues.
SQNLDR Chambers says that smuggling is one of the biggest border
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AFN69, APRIL 06
Members of Indonesian Defence Force (IDF) and Timor Leste’s Border
Protection Unit (BPU) come together for a photo opportunity on the Oecussi
border sector. SQNLDR Chambers is in the middle (blue cap, dark DPMs).
ADAPTING TO CHANGE IN TIMOR LESTE
issues and the fact that up to 4 percent of the border is still undelineated
makes its control very diffi cult.
A pilgrimage to mark the 5th anniversary of the death of PTE Leonard
Manning was a highlight of the deployment, he says (see story). Other
highlights included accompanying the CMTA to Oecussi to help sort out a
violent dispute between two villages; an invitation to the Australian UN
Police for their medal parade; and working alongside fellow ANZACs.
SQNLDR Chambers says working for the UN was a personal ambition
and he ‘gained invaluable experience from working in a multi-national
environment, and as the Logistics Offi cer I was exposed to the UN’s
various functions.’
He returned to New Zealand on 23 December with a glowing Performance
Evaluation Report and a CMTA Commendation. SQNLDR Chambers
received his NZGSM (East Timor) at a ceremony on 1 March.
PTE MANNING
REMEMBERED
An emotional pilgrimage to the site of PTE Leonard Manning’s
death on the fi fth anniversary of his killing on 24 July was a highlight
of SQNLDR Chamber’s Timor Leste deployment. The UN provided
transport for four personnel - 3 NZDF staff and an Australian Federal
policeman – to the site. The group, also accompanied by a local
interpreter and Brazilian MTA LT COL Santos, walked the rugged
ground PTE Manning had traversed and came to the site of the small
memorial. A Tiki hung from the cross and worn poppies littered the
ground, says SQNLDR Chambers.
SNO MAJ Vernon Pomana led a moving ceremony; SQNLDR Chambers
recited the Ode and MAJ Kelly Gray placed fl owers on the memorial.
The ceremony ended with a waiata from the NZDF personnel.
SQNLDR Chambers says PTE Manning’s family and comrades should
rest assured that he will continue to be remembered both in Timor
Leste and at home.
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