Peacekeepers halved

The New Zealand Defence Force is reducing the number of its military deployment in East Timor to six-monthly rotations of 74 personnel. Because of the improved security environment in East Timor, defence minister Dr Wayne Mapp says the next rotation of New Zealand troops to East Timor will be just over half the size of earlier rotations of around 14. Mapp says New Zealand’s support in East Timor will focus on providing security and development assistance. Commanding Officer, Major David Halsall, says they will be patrolling, guarding some of the bases, meeting the locals and “building the hearts and minds campaign.” New Zealand Defence Force personnel have been deployed in Timor since 1999.