(21 Jun 1999) English/Nat
An international police team has arrived in the Indonesian province of East Timor, to oversee a referendum on independence scheduled for August 8th.
United Nations team members from Spain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Britain came from Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, where they'd been training.
They form part of a 278-member force which will travel to the troubled territory over the next five weeks.
The team arrived in the East Timorese capital, Dili, on Monday.
They were originally expected to fly out on Saturday, but the flight was postponed while the Australian Federal Police contingent in the force awaited approval from the government.
The U-N team travelled from Darwin, where they had been training at a staging post and supply centre.
The force comprises members from Spain, Ireland, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
They form part of a 278-member force advising Indonesian police on maintaining law and order during the August 8th referendum to decide whether East Timor wants autonomy or a complete break from Indonesia.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'm from New Zealand, I'm here with the United Nations civilian police to help supervise the forthcoming vote on popular consultation in relation to the independence issue."
SUPER CAPTION: New Zealand member of team, name to follow
Police will be arriving in Dili in five groups over the next five weeks, with the first airlift comprising 38 people, including 15 Australians.
Fighting in the former Portuguese colony, which was invaded by Indonesia in 1975, has increased with the approach of the referendum.
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