Timor Leste have been under the threat of civil war with government troops and rebels which are former soldiers. Their foreign minister have requested peace-keeping troops from Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia. I was wondering why they didn't ask for our help since we have the best expeditory forces in South East Asia. We also have experience in East Timor before under UN.

Malaysia is said to have donated some weapons to the Timor Leste military. Can anyone tell me what are these? Thanks

In a way, you can say that Singapore is quite distant from them in terms of diplomatic ties. I hope that the situation calms down there, its really a nice place to visit as a traveller. I actually was very tempted to go there sometime end of this year.

Timor Leste is Australia's backyard. They have vested interest in oil and gas fields.

Yes, we have the capability to project there. This is hampered by the hypersensitivites of our Northern neighbour. Don't want them to wet their knickers.

Malaysia ended up sending observers before they will further commit.
NZ and Portugal have troops ready. Waiting final go ahead from their respective governments.

I thought the ending will be happy forever after they separated from Indonesia.. Really sad to see even own people also fight...This is definitely 3rd World...

I wonder whether we’ll have to send peacekeepers there again…

As a 1st World Standard Country, We must send our peace keeping troop there.. How can we see from far and leave them in that kind of situation. We upheld peace..so quickly send.

Originally posted by king108

As a 1st World Standard Country, We must send our peace keeping troop there.. How can we see from far and leave them in that kind of situation. We upheld peace..so quickly send

That depends on various factors such as politics. The USA is certainly 1st world and they are the champions of 'world peace' (Pax Americania i must say) but you don't see them getting involved. Their participation in the previous stae of unrest is also minimal. So one may ask why is this so?

Firstly, Timor Leste is firmly in the sphere of influence of Australia, much like those tiny island countries in the Pacific such as Fiji.

Secondly, the US have nothing to gain from this as the oil and gas deposits are to be divided between Australia and Timor Leste. USA won't want to offend a trusty ally like Australia in their backyard.

Thirdly, they already have their hands and maybe even feet full in Afganistan and Iraq.

Singapore must access the situation carefully. This is because our military is mainly made up of conscripts. It will be hard to explain the deaths of sons to their parents when they died protecting people of another country, when we are all told that we are serving NS to protect Singapore. However, i support the sending of ADF like the previous time. Since they are regulars, it will be more politically acceptable to send them to gain some combat experience

They are our good allies..we cannot just stand here and watch their houses burnt to ground. Am I right.

Malaysia already send their troop there..Ours are more superior hence must go more of this..That will also can show other our peace keeping effor in the international region is no less then any others.

I support to go.

Originally posted by king108:

They are our good allies..we cannot just stand here and watch their houses burnt to ground. Am I right.

Malaysia already send their troop there..Ours are more superior hence must go more of this..That will also can show other our peace keeping effor in the international region is no less then any others.

I support to go.

I belive they should sent troops also.

from what i read,Malaysia sent observers. who are suppose to report back with details for further commitment.

The last time US loaned the Aussie army 5000 flak jackets becuz the Aussies didnt have any.

i think we should sent our troops there.
don't even wait for a request, our foreign minister should have contacted them and offered them our services immediately.

Our deployment to Aceh has wet many Indo pants, by deploying to Timor under 24 hrs , will wet them again.

Originally posted by LazerLordz:

Our deployment to Aceh has wet many Indo pants, by deploying to Timor under 24 hrs , will wet them again.

everyone know's how good we are they just dont wanna admit it?

"They are our good allies..we cannot just stand here and watch their houses burnt to ground. Am I right."

You did last time why should this be any different ?

"The last time US loaned the Aussie army 5000 flak jackets becuz the Aussies didnt have any."

Is that right ?

"everyone know's how good we are they just dont wanna admit it?"

Thats a bit like claiming a world boxing championship without ever having a fight.

600++ troops that are not happy right?

Bernama.com
Malaysian National News Agency

M'sian Peacekeepers Deployed At Strategic Sites In Timor Leste
General
May 27, 2006 17:02 PM
SHAH ALAM, May 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysian peacekeeping troops who flew into Timor Leste Saturday will operate with Australian troops to guard strategic buildings and key installations in the violence-racked country, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the Malaysian troops, consisting of 219 army paratroopers and commandos, arrived in the Timor Leste capital Dili at 6.30am.

They were deployed at the Dili Airport, port, government buildings and embassies.

"The Australian military is coordinating the operation," he said at a news conference after representing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to launch the Rural Human Capital Development Programme here today.

Najib, who is also the Defence Minister, said Malaysia would pay for the peacekeeping mission.

"We are funding it but the expenditure is not much as it does not involve buying new equipment," he said.

Two Royal Malaysian Navy vessels -- "KD Merong Mahawangsa" and "KD Inderasakti" -- are ferrying the equipment of the Malaysian troops, including armoured carriers, to Dili. They left the Lumut naval base yesterday.

The troops have been taught the basic Tetum language, the spoken language by the locals, to introduce themselves as peacekeepers.

The fighting that began several weeks ago was sparked by the government's decision to sack almost half the country's military after the soldiers went on strike to protest against poor conditions.

The violence escalated on Thursday when at least nine people were killed and 27 wounded.

Referring to the admission of "mistakes" in the war in Iraq by US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday, Najib said Malaysia had been consistent in its stand that the sovereignty of all countries must be respected.

He said Malaysia did not support the invasion of Iraq which was not sanctioned by the United Nations.

The military action clearly had created chaos in Iraq and clouded the future of the country despite the recent formation of a new national government, he added.

On the failure of National Service Training Programme dodgers to respond to the final chance offered to them, Najib said the government should not be faulted for taking legal action against them.

-- BERNAMA

obviously the situation in Timor now is vastly different from the last time our soldiers were there...i believe they announced in last nights local news that our country said that "help is on the way" but what form of aid, is still not clear.

It's a real pity things went to hell all over again. Recently there were lotsa ads potraying Timor as a traveller's destination. Now everything's back to square one.

But between Timor and the quake in yogyakarta, i think if our soldiers were to be
deployed, more likely yogyakarta.

Originally posted by Hellraiza:

obviously the situation in Timor now is vastly different from the last time our soldiers were there...i believe they announced in last nights local news that our country said that "help is on the way" but what form of aid, is still not clear.

It's a real pity things went to hell all over again. Recently there were lotsa ads potraying Timor as a traveller's destination. Now everything's back to square one.

But between Timor and the quake in yogyakarta, i think if our soldiers were to be
deployed, more likely yogyakarta.

with Mt. Merapi likely to erupt anytime.. I dont think our guys will be deployed so quickly..

But our neighbours are suffering now.. I think we ought to do something..

Originally posted by Pitot:

with Mt. Merapi likely to erupt anytime.. I dont think our guys will be deployed so quickly..

But our neighbours are suffering now.. I think we ought to do something..

not now pls, we already gone for the stupid flood liao

All these are making singaporean soldiers busy...

Originally posted by nightzip:

All these are making singaporean soldiers busy...

What better way than to practise humanitarian diplomacy than by sending peacekeepers and medical teams.

It's all about goodwill and neighbourliness.

Singapore is not in the business of flag waving exercises. If others would doubt our deployment capabilities, just have a look at our overseas deployments.

If any particular country can base thier prowess on a miniscule or small military contribution, then clearly, that country is starved for lack of pride and confidence in thier military. Clearly, a particular country, more known for bizzare statements and an equally bewildering or confusing(or confused)foriegn policy, if not minister, is more powerful than Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc since she has troops on the ground. Utter nonsense.

I agree with a previous poster who mentioned that East Timor serves no strategic value to Singapore. She`s too far away. She can offer us nothing in return for our help. That is prolly why we don`t even have an embassy there. As it happened, the East Timorese government appealed for help from nations which had formal diplomatic ties(embassies) with the infant government. In addition, they would not want countries too close to Indonesia within thier borders during such precarious times too.

I don`t think an independant East Timor is a viable entity. East Timor remains a future battle-ground between the Aussies and Indonesians. Another baggage to a whole list of problem shouldered by ASEAN. In fact, ASEAN does`nt really care. Smart nations who want to be in Indonesia`s group of close friends would stay away unless it does`nt affect relations or they have good strategic reasons to do so. Of course, some nations are`nt that smart anyway.

sg wun send troops so soon one lah.. wait for other countries to settle the rebels den when everything stable liao, we go clear up the mess.. all wayang lah.. take photos of our boys helping villages, carry babies, etc.. everything okie liao den pack up n come back.. ppl on top can look forward to collect awards n badges..

Originally posted by tankee1981:

That depends on various factors such as politics. The USA is certainly 1st world and they are the champions of 'world peace' (Pax Americania i must say) but you don't see them getting involved. Their participation in the previous stae of unrest is also minimal. So one may ask why is this so?

Firstly, Timor Leste is firmly in the sphere of influence of Australia, much like those tiny island countries in the Pacific such as Fiji.

Secondly, the US have nothing to gain from this as the oil and gas deposits are to be divided between Australia and Timor Leste. USA won't want to offend a trusty ally like Australia in their backyard.

Thirdly, they already have their hands and maybe even feet full in Afganistan and Iraq.

Singapore must access the situation carefully. This is because our military is mainly made up of conscripts. It will be hard to explain the deaths of sons to their parents when they died protecting people of another country, when we are all told that we are serving N S to protect Singapore. However, i support the sending of ADF like the previous time. Since they are regulars, it will be more politically acceptable to send them to gain some combat experience

send our regulars