Violence in East Timor causes United Nations evacuation
{{date|May 29, 2006}}
[[Image:Flag of the United Nations.svg|left|thumb|180px|Flag of the United Nations]]
{{aussieissue|2006 East Timor crisis}}
An upsurge in violence in [[w:East Timor|East Timor]] has made the [[United Nations]] evacuate hundreds of staff members and families from the country. 

Sukehiro Hasegawa, the Special Representative to Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Dili said, "A temporary relocation for non-essential staff is the most judicious choice at this time."

The decision comes after the Australian-led peacekeeping operation and the East Timorese government struggled to contain unrest in [[w:Dili|Dili]], the country's capital. 

Gang members, some wielding machetes, have been fighting along ethnic lines. There also has been looting and buildings have been razed. 

Staff members and families will be relocated to Darwin, Australia. Over 100 United Nations staff will remain in East Timor awaiting the arrival of more Australian peacekeeping forces.

The peacekeeping operation began after an appeal by the government for international help. Australian forces are part of the multinational force that numbers over 2000 military personnel. 

The peacekeepers say they do not directly engage in combat. This brought confusion from one child who said, "Why aren't the Australians doing anything?" 

The Australian Prime Minister John Howard said, "It's a trickier operation than some people think, nobody should assume that it's just a simple walk-in-the-park military operation -- it's quite challenging."

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5029794.stm
|title=Emergency rule for E Timor"
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date= May 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.ft.com/cms/s/626e8b92-eeaf-11da-820a-0000779e2340.html
|title=UN evacuates staff as violence flares in East Timor
|author=Shawn Yogyakarta
|pub=Financial Times
|date=May 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.axcessnews.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=9764
|title=UN Evacuates Timor-Leste as Tensions Rise
|author=Staff
|pub=AXcess News
|date=May 28, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Timor_gangs_torch_houses_Australian_troops_patrol.html?siteSect=143&sid=6755062&cKey=1148712836000
|title=Timoreser Youth Gangs Rampage
|author=David Fox
|pub=Swiss Info
|date= May 28, 2006}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:East Timor]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:United Nations]]
Flag of the United Nations

An upsurge in violence in East Timor has made the United Nations evacuate hundreds of staff members and families from the country. 

Sukehiro Hasegawa, the Special Representative to Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Dili said, "A temporary relocation for non-essential staff is the most judicious choice at this time."

The decision comes after the Australian-led peacekeeping operation and the East Timorese government struggled to contain unrest in Dili, the country's capital. 

Gang members, some wielding machetes, have been fighting along ethnic lines. There also has been looting and buildings have been razed. 

Staff members and families will be relocated to Darwin, Australia. Over 100 United Nations staff will remain in East Timor awaiting the arrival of more Australian peacekeeping forces.

The peacekeeping operation began after an appeal by the government for international help. Australian forces are part of the multinational force that numbers over 2000 military personnel. 

The peacekeepers say they do not directly engage in combat. This brought confusion from one child who said, "Why aren't the Australians doing anything?" 

The Australian Prime Minister John Howard said, "It's a trickier operation than some people think, nobody should assume that it's just a simple walk-in-the-park military operation -- it's quite challenging."
Politics and conflicts East Timor Asia Australia Oceania United Nations