New Zealand Military Liaison Officers Stay In Dili

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

10 September 1999

Media Statement

New Zealand Military Liaison Officers Stay In Dili

Editors: Corrects text and spelling error in third para.

Three New Zealand Military Liaison Officers stationed at the United Nations compound in Dili, East Timor, will possibly be evacuated at last light today on the air bridge being run by the Australia Defence Force.

This will leave five Military Liaison Officers on the ground in Dili as part of the United Nations force being left at the compound.

The Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Carey Adamson, said it was an extremely fluid situation in Dili.

He said if the New Zealand Defence Force people did not get away on the last flight tonight, they would try again at first light in the morning.

"The three officers Major Mark Ogilvie, Major Phil Morrison, and Squadron Leader Brett Marshall, will join the two officers, Lieutenant Commander Shaun Fogarty, and Squadron Leader Scott Arrell who are in Darwin after being evacuated from Bacau early Wednesday morning.

"None of our military people wanted to leave the compound but the reduction of the UN presence meant we could only maintain a force of five people."

He said it was possible that a two-week rotation may be put in place to relieve the Military Liaison Officers remaining in Dili.

New Defence Force personnel remaining in the UN compound will be Colonel Neville Reilly, Squadron Leader Dave Woodhouse, Squadron Leader Logan Cudby, Major Jon Knight, and Captain Stefan Michie.

HMNZS TE KAHA is due to arrive in the area tomorrow and will be joined by HMNZS Endeavour will is scheduled to depart Singapore on Monday after taking on fuel and supplies.

ENDS

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