April 2000 Volume 81 Number 4 "serving the protectors"

Policing East Timor

Dear Andrew

I arrived in East Timor on March 1 and have been posted to Manatuto, which is 110km east of Dili on the north coast. The city of Manatuto covers an area not much larger than your average Australian country town, but Manatuto City has a population of about 9,000 with the total population of the Manatuto area estimated at about 36,000. That area extends through to the south coast of East Timor. It is oppressively hot and humid but there is relief when it rains or when you get into the highlands.

I am based at the sub-station, which is a building we share with Philippine Army (Philbatt). There is no glass in the windows, no phone, just a radio (hand-held) and a computer. We do have 240-volt power 24 hours a day thanks to Philbatt, the only location in town where this is so. The other CivPol members are from Brazil, Portugal, Gambia, Ghana, Nigiers, Canada, USA, Bangladesh and Pakistan. They all speak English but sometimes it is difficult to understand them. They also find us difficult to understand and the Canadian said our accent made it difficult.

The locals are very friendly and always have a smile and wave for you. They have extreme respect for CivPol, particularly the Australians. The fact they seem to be cheerful is amazing, seeing their whole town was burnt to the ground. That is houses, shops, business premises, schools, government buildings - the lot. Only about 10% was untouched. The locals have salvaged scraps of corrugated iron from the ashes and built themselves shanties.

When you arrive here, it is your responsibility to find your own accommodation. I am sharing with three other AustCivPol but will be moving to another place in a few days. The house is just a shell - concrete walls, corrugated iron roof. No ceiling, no running water, no glass in the windows. It will have a concrete floor, two external doors, and a squat toilet that is hand flushed with a bucket and a water holder for bathing. Electricity is only for three to four hours a day in the evening. All of this is at the rental cost of 700,000 rupiah (approximately $A180). For an extra RP50,000 we can get our clothes washed for a month. Washing is done at the community well by local women by hand. They do quite a good job. You will get herds of water buffalo hanging around your house, wallowing in mud pools left by the rain. Hopefully they make it unbearable for mosquito larvae.

Of a night, you simply lay on your stretcher under a mosquito net and swelter. You do get used to it as there is no air conditioning or fans. No electricity to run them anyhow. As my survival and food kit is yet to arrive, I am eating breakfast (some Just Right from Aust Army) from the bottom section of a plastic water bottle and top section fashioned into a spoon for eating it.

The work here varies from sorting out disturbances between groups from different communities arguing over minor matters to escorting displaced persons back home.

One of the disturbances involved Manatuto locals and Baucau locals in which a Baucau bus was mobbed, windows broken with iron bars and pipe, stones thrown, machetes waved about. Philippine Army were on the scene first and discharged some shots into the air to disperse the crowd, took the weapons and apprehended several persons. We now have to try and identify individual offenders and broker peace between the two groups to avoid further conflict. Language barriers make this a difficult task. It slows the whole process even when using an interpreter.

Another disturbance was over rice distribution and the amount being distributed. This is still on-going but hopefully it will be resolved.

We also need to commence investigation of the persons murdered by the Militia in September ’99 and exhume the remains. There are apparently several gravesites in the district and all areas have similar incidents that need clearing up.

I also escorted two youngsters back home to a highland village called Laclobar, some 50km south of Manatuto in the mountains. We travelled through several villages and they had all been burnt to the ground. Locals were rebuilding using local materials such as bamboo and building bamboo and palm thatch huts. The bamboo grows about 25 to 30 metres high and about 15 to 20cm in diameter. Quite amazing. Magnificent scenery.

Travelling around East Timor by locals is usually done by 26-seater bus. Twenty-six people on the inside and another dozen or so hanging on to the side or sitting on the roof. Traffic laws are almost non-existent, but we do insist on 30km/h inside town limits as the roads are very narrow and there are little or no footpaths. Driving around Dili is quite an eye-opener and the most used accessory on any vehicle is the horn. As the locals drive around cutting corners, cutting other traffic off, being cut off, they do it with a huge amount of tolerance. No such thing as road rage for these minor inconveniences. Perhaps they can teach us a thing or two about tolerance in this sphere?

Just for information of those who are following, they should make sure they carry several days of supplies in their personal luggage. This includes carrying a couple of litres of water on the plane (UN Hercules) with you, as it may be some hours before you can get to a location for a drink. No flight attendants on Hercules. Your supplies should include food, doxycycline (anti-malarial drugs), mattress, sleeping bag, mosquito net and insect repellent. It is important to keep mosquitoes away. Malaria and dengue are diseases to avoid. (Three bouts of dengue can be fatal so if you contract dengue your UN mission is over. You will be flown back to Darwin.)

The reason members who are following should carry some gear to tie them over is the fact I’ve been here for a week and my survival kit and food trunk is yet to arrive. The last I heard it would be leaving Darwin on March 8 (today). The Australian Army was kind enough to see us through with some supplies for a few days to enable us to get to our posting and start work. It was costing $A75 a day to stay on the floor of an auditorium in Dili. That money will almost buy one months’ rent in the other districts. When you reach Dili, you want to hit the ground running.

There are some stores and supermarkets opening up in Dili that sell products we are familiar with. One store is partly owned by the father of one of my neighbours back home. A small world, isn’t it. They have promised to look after Australians, particularly if the UN withdraws the water ration of three 1.5-litre bottles a day. In place of this, they will increase our MSA and you will need to purchase your water. The water carton of 12. The local water is considered contaminated. The withdrawal of the water ration has been suggested but we are unsure if it is to become a reality. However, when you hear a rumour, you need to make some plans to counter any additional difficulty, in case you are caught short. You are supplied with water purification tablets but by all accounts, while the water is drinkable, it is not palatable.

It is not my intention to put people off as it is quite challenging and a rewarding experience. If people are coming for the money only, they will be disappointed.

I hope all is well over in Adelaide, as we don’t get any news or information as to what is happening down there.

Regards
Kevin Beinke
Senior Sergeant
AustCivPol UNTEAT
HQ Dili

Old Troopers

Editor

A dinner or luncheon known as Police Old Troopers has been held for many years.

This began in 1984 when “A” Troop totalled 50 years since initiation of the junior constables in 1934. Paul Turner organized a dinner for “A” Troop and thereafter each year as the troops reached 50 years.

Paul Turner continued with the dinner at night until age caught up with older troops and the reunion was changed to a luncheon.

Alf McLean, Ted Calder and Bob Morris took on the duties from Paul Turner and the lunches are held at Fort Largs. After the passing of Alf McLean I was asked to continue his duties.

We have now come to 2000 and the recruitment of “Y” Troop in 1945. I am not familiar with the next recruiting programme with cadets, ex-servicemen and adult training. Last year the title of our luncheon was changed to the 50 Plus Luncheon, and I am hoping through this letter to the editor for the recruits from 1945 to 1950 to contact me for their attendance at the lunches. This includes all recruits who may have left the service and wish to keep contact with their fellow recruits in training days and service.

The lunches are held at Fort Largs on the first Friday in May each year. Contact EJB Turner on (08) 8261 6354.

Thanking you
Jock Turner

Intensely Appreciative

Dear sir

While waiting to attend a meeting of the Retired Police Officers Association on February 3, my wife, Shirley, became ill. Several members’ wives and committee members instantly rallied around her. These very fine women attended her for some time.

Some years ago, Noel Coward recorded a song about mad dogs and Englishmen going out into the midday sun. On February 3, a very fine gentleman, Andy Dunn, went out into the midday sun and waited in the heat for the arrival of an ambulance. I can assure you that it was a very hot midday sun.

Shirley was conveyed to St Andrews Hospital where she was admitted. During her time there, room 40 was turned into a virtual flower cum-stationery shop with the amount of flowers and cards she received from the staff of the Superannuation Fund, Police Association, police academy and too many others for me to list.

Some cynical persons state that we should receive the services that people are paid to perform, however, there is a line at the end of those services. The medical staff, nurses and other staff at St Andrews, the crew of the ambulance went well beyond that line in caring for Shirley. Their encouragement and time spent in just talking to her, the endless line of members of the RPOA who visited and made phone calls kept her in very high spirits.

The actions of members of the committee of the RPOA who took it upon themselves to keep members up to date with her progress was very appreciated.

How many times have we seen people express the impossibility of the word “thanks” to pass on the feelings we have in trying to express our appreciation of the kindness we have received? Shirley and I find ourselves in that exact position.

A very appreciative
Ken Phillips

Icing on the Cake

Dear Andy

Just want to say a big thank you to the staff and members of your association for the beautiful basket and best wishes I received on my last day with SAPOL (28.1.00).

I have really enjoyed my working life with the department and your gesture just puts the icing on the cake.

Once again, thanks loads.

Yours sincerely
Tricia Curtin

Long-Service Medal

Dear Andy

I am prompted to communicate on the progress of the promised and long awaited Police Long Service medal and increments which were approved some years ago. I believe that the “award” is to be presented to not only serving but retired police officers who are eligible under the published criteria some time ago.

The old dark blue and white ribbon and medal of the Police Long Service and Good Conduct was abolished years ago and, as time goes by, the older retired members ought to at least have the recognition presented to them in their lifetime with some dignity and appreciation of service.

Can it be ascertained for whom, when and where it will happen?

The longer it goes on, the longer the disillusionment - or perhaps we have grown to accept this.

Yours faithfully
Brian D Brealey
Nuriootpa Police Station

Techno Jargon

Dear Andy

I wish to compliment Michael Grant on his letter, Infected by Officialese, (Police Journal, March 2000). I would like to add to the debate this gem that appears in SAPOL’s Business Plan 1999-2000. Under the heading “Priority Areas” in section 2.4, titled “Targeting Other Criminal Activity”, it is stated:

There is continuing concern about the increased sophistication and extent of fraud through the use of electronic technology. (So far so good!) This includes virtual company crime, electronic extortion, and electronic cash theft.

Maybe somebody could enlighten us as to what virtual company crime, electronic extortion and electronic cash theft are. Officialese has been superseded or complemented by techno jargon. It is important the above terms be defined as they are, apparently, SAPOL’s major priority in the fight against fraud in 1999-2000.

Does the addition of the word “electronic” to the word “theft” turn a theft into a fraud? Do extortions become frauds because a computer is the tool for committing the crime? I venture to say that crimes don’t change; it is the means by which they are committed that do.

At the moment investigation of company offences is the province of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission while extortions and thefts are investigated by local service area investigators as they are, presently, not regarded as frauds. Does this mean that the Serious Fraud Investigation Branch has no priorities in 1999/2000?

Regards
Phil Giles
Serious Fraud Investigation Branch

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