Soldiers uncertain of task lying ahead

A platoon of 42 New Zealand Army soldiers faced uncertainty as they flew from Christchurch yesterday, bound for East Timor.

After a week on stand-by, they learned only late on Thursday night they would be going.

Their first stop was Townsville, Queensland, where they will wait for further direction from the Australian-led intervention force before travelling to the region stricken with gunfights and rampaging mobs.

A company of about 120 soldiers is due to leave Christchurch today on an Air Force Boeing 757 and eventually join the platoon in East Timor.

The infantry platoon will stay there for no more than a month, because the soldiers lack the full inoculations against tropical disease. They do not yet know what their roles will be.

"We don't really know what to expect," said Commander of New Zealand Defence Joint Forces, Rear Admiral Jack Steer.

"The good thing would be that the forces go in there, stabilise what is going on, the warring factions talk about it and they come to a resolution reasonably quickly.

"But we don't really know."

If fired upon, the New Zealand troops were armed and had the right to defend themselves and those they were working with, Rear Admiral Steer said.

"The situation on the ground [in East Timor] is not terribly good. But we see them being employed in roles that they are very familiar with, that they are trained to do, so we should not experience too many difficulties with them once they actually get there."

Private Katiama Niwha's excitement at travelling to East Timor was tempered by the sadness of having to leave behind his partner, Kaycee Tipene-Thomas, and five-month-old son, Tekohu.

"I don't know what to expect, but I'm ready to go. This is why I joined the Army," Private Niwha said.

Ms Tipene-Thomas was philosophical about her partner having to go: "At the end of the day, it's his job. I knew what I was getting myself into."

Communication between East Timor and New Zealand was expected to be limited.

"If I don't hear from him, I'll know he's all right," Ms Tipene-Thomas said.

Lance Corporal Steffan Ryder learned he was going to East Timor about 12.30am yesterday, but he has already travelled there twice before with the Army.

"So I know the country, I know the people, I know a bit of the language. So it's not going to be much of a culture shock for me this time around."

He and the other soldiers were feeling "reasonably confident".

"And everyone is quite keen to get in there and see what we can do over there to help the people. So we're looking forward to it."

Rear Admiral Steer said it was up to the Government to decide whether more troops were required in East Timor, but further forces were being prepared in case.