From July 19th to 28th, Timor-Leste received a visit of 15 veterans from New Zealand, who came to Timor-Leste to produce a documentary about their participation in the United Nations Mission In East Timor (UNAMET) and the International Force in East Timor (INTERFET). The delegation was led by New Zeland Veterans Association President Wayne Buck and Major General Martyn Dunne.
On Friday, July 26th 2024, the New Zealand veterans were received by the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, at the Government Palace, in Dili. During the meeting, the objective of the visit was discussed, which is to document the experiences and contributions of New Zealand veterans in peacekeeping missions in Timor-Leste.
Xanana Gusmão highlighted the importance of the New Zealand’s forces intervention during a critical period in the history of Timor-Leste, stating that “New Zealand’s military presence in 1999, both in UNAMET and INTERFET was exemplary. Thanks to its participation and intervention, Timor-Leste managed to achieve a situation of peace and begin the process of State building”.
The Prime Minister also higlihted that, while in many other places in the world peacekeeping forces remain for decades without being able to establish peace, in Timor-Leste, the presence of these forces is an example to the world, for having managed to resolve the problems and prepare the country for independence.
Major General Martyn Dunne, who served as deputy commander of INTERFET in 1999, expressed his pleasure for visiting Timor-Leste again after more than two decades. Seeing the progress and development of Timor-Leste is a source of great pride. It is gratifying to observe a nation that has risen after such challenging times”, he said.
UNAMET was a United Nations Mission created to organize and supervise Timor-Leste’s 1999 self determination referendum. The mission included international observes and security forces to ensure a peaceful process. Following the post-referendum violence, INTERFET an Australian-led multinational force was authorized by the UN Security Council to restore peace and security. INTERFET was present from september 1999 to february 2000 and included contigents from several countries, including New Zealand, Portugal, the United Kongdom, and the United States, among others.
The visit by the delegation, which includes veterans from various branches of the New Zealand armed forces, who were in the country between 1999 and 2002, is being documented for the making of a documentary film, with former TV3 presenter, Mike McRoberts, as narrator. The documentary aims to capture the significant experiences and stories of veterans, including the tragic incident in Suai involving, Leonard Manning, the first New Zealander to lose his life on duty since the Vietnam War”.