WikiLeaks: NZ on standby for East Timor - 25/05/05

May 25, 2005 NZ on standby for East Timor

date:2006-05-25T04:45:00 source:Embassy Wellington origin:06WELLINGTON405 destination:VZCZCXRO6930 OO RUEHDT DE RUEHWL #0405 1450445 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 250445Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2827 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 4420 RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI IMMEDIATE 0012 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR IMMEDIATE 0141 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON IMMEDIATE 0043 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE IMMEDIATE 0419 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0050 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference:06CANBERRA779 ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000405

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR D (FRITZ), EAP/FO, EAP/MTS, EUR/WE, EAP/ANP, AND PM/ISO NSC FOR V... ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000405

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR D (FRITZ), EAP/FO, EAP/MTS, EUR/WE, EAP/ANP, AND PM/ISO NSC FOR VICTOR CHA SECDEF FOR OSD/ISD LIZ PHU PACOM FOR JO1E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016 TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ASEC, TT, NZ, AS SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND ON STANDBY FOR EAST TIMOR

REF: A. CANBERRA 779

B. DILI 254

Classified By: DCM DAVID R. BURNETT, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) GNZ officials are deciding what support New Zealand will provide to E. Timor now that the Timorese government has officially asked for help. In the morning of May 25, NZ Defense Force (NZDF) Assistant Chief for Strategic Commitments and Intelligence, Brigadier Warren Whiting, told DATT and Pol-Econ Chief that NZ's Defense Attache and Ambassador to Dili were joining Australia's high-level delegation to discuss command and control, tasks, and terms of engagement with GOT. GNZ officials are meeting regularly throughout the day, and Foreign Minister Peters, Defense Minister Goff, CDF Mataparae, New Zealand's Deputy High Commissioner and Defense Attache in Canberra are all also in close contact with their Australian counterparts. GNZ was also anticipating a statement from the UN Security Council later today.

2. (C) Whiting, who was joined by Col. Mike Thompson, Director of Strategic Commitments, said that the Timorese had been far more specific about what they wanted from the Australians and the Portuguese than from New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore. He said that the UN rep in Timor had recommended mostly police intervention, and Portugal was sending about 125 gendarmes. But Australian officials think this is more of a military than police operation, and GNZ agrees. Whiting said that in any case, Australia and New Zealand do not have para-military forces.

3. (C) Whiting and Thompson said that NZ has two C-130s on stand-by that can be moved immediately as needed to help transport NZ and/or Australian troops. They said that GNZ assumes the situation has moved from an evacuation of noncombatants (NEO) to a military operation. GNZ has also upgraded its travel advisory for E. Timor, although there are no Kiwi tourists known to be there, nor does the NZ Embassy in Dili have many dependents. There are about 40-49 New Zealanders in the country, but as they are more or less embedded -- for example doing NGO work -- they are apparently in no hurry to leave.

4. (C) As far as GNZ can tell, there appears to be no threat to foreigners in E. Timor. Much of Dili appears to be operating as normal and although there have been fire fights between groups, they have not been widespread. There is no risk getting to the airport, and commercial flights are still available. GNZ is concerned, however, that foreigners could end up being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

5. (C) GNZ has offered to assist Singapore and other "approved" foreign nationals in Dili, including allowing them to assemble at the NZ Embassy if needed. McCormick

ENDS