Rudd says troops facing dangers but must stay on ground

Rudd says troops facing dangers but must stay on ground

http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/national/734473.html

AUSTRALIAN troops are under enormous pressure during the East Timorese elections and will remain in danger as the ballots are counted, says Labor leader Kevin Rudd.

However, Mr Rudd said it was important troops remained on the ground until security was assured.

“This is going to be a very difficult test for the fragile East Timorese democracy,” Mr Rudd said yesterday.

“We’re going to have to ensure that Australian troops remain on the ground in East Timor for some considerable time to come.”

Mr Rudd said Australia must not repeat the mistake it made in June, 2005, when it withdrew troops from East Timor following a six-year peacekeeping mission.

The Government was forced to send troops back in April last year after a wave of rioting that followed the sacking of almost 600 East Timorese soldiers for deserting their barracks.

Five people were killed and 20,000 fled their homes.

“The Government pulled our troops out of East Timor too early last time,” Mr Rudd said.

“That’s why we had problems and insecurity last year.

“We should not do that again.”

Mr Rudd said Australia’s thoughts and prayers should be with its troops in the tiny fledgling nation.

“It’s not just in the lead-up to a ballot, it’s when a ballot’s been held and people are disappointed, some of them, about the result, that there is a real risk of violence,” Mr Rudd said.