// Ambassador Visit To Suai
By MAJ Graeme Todd
The Manning Memorial in Tilomar
In early February 2009, with OP KORU assistance, New Zealand’s new Ambassador to Timor Leste, His Excellency Dr Tim McIvor undertook a familiarization visit to Suai in Cova Lima District.
This was to be the Ambassador’s first visit to the outlying districts of Timor Leste and he was keen to get an introduction to the district that has strong historical links to New Zealand’s earlier deployments to Timor Leste. COL Peter Wood, OP KORU’s Senior National Officer (SNO) briefed the Ambassador and party, consisting of the First Secretary, Ms Sarah Wong; the Senior NZ Police Officer, Superintendent Peter Cowan; CO OP KORU, WGCDR Rory Paddock; and OC National Support Element (NSE) Rear (Darwin), MAJ Graeme Todd. As a previous CO of NZ BATT 4, COL Wood was able to provide the group with his detailed knowledge of the district particularly as it related to the NZDF’s earlier deployments.
The party’s first stop in the PDL Toll Bell 412 helicopter was the former Coy HQ location at Tilomar. This building is somewhat dilapidated now with the former occupants’ company logos still recognizable; but fading fast. Of real interest to the Ambassador and the party was the memorial to PTE Leonard Manning located in front of the former company HQ building. Standing next to this memorial was a very poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice paid by this fine young man.
The Ambassador’s first visit in Suai township was to the District Administrator of Cova Lima District, Mr. Inaciao Peres Da Silva. Mr. Da Silva said that because of the death of several New Zealand soldiers in the district during previous Battalion deployments, the people of Cova Lima felt a special bond with all New Zealanders.
The Ambassador’s next port of call was to the orphanage located next to the still uncompleted Suai Cathedral. The orphans of the 8 September 1999 massacre, where more than 200 people were killed, greeted the Ambassador and his party with a particularly colourful welcoming ceremony. The children were all wearing traditional costumes and many were playing drums and singing as the visitors moved into the orphanage. The greeting also involved the presentation of colourful handmade traditional tais scarves. The most colourful of these scarves, a vivid pink number, was appropriately reserved for the only RNZAF member of the party, OP KORU CO, WGCDR Rory Paddock. While touring the orphanage and the grounds of the cathedral an elderly nun recounted the terrible details of the 1999 Massacre. The memories of this tragic event are obviously still strong as she was able to point out the exact locations where priests and many of her friends had perished.
The party called in at the Kiwi Platoon house, currently being used by TG GYRO 6 for regional patrols. The tour of Suai was completed with a visit to what used to be the former NZ BATT HQ. The former NZ BATT HQ was once a hospital that was abandoned in 1999 and successive NZ BATTs used it as an HQ. Filipino nuns have converted it back to its use as a hospital and it is also used as the billet for the eight NZ Police officers serving with the United Nations in Cova Lima District.
Walking around Suai it is soon apparent that NZDF personnel have left an indelible impression on the town’s people. It was common to be greeted by ‘Kia ora bro’ accompanied by broad smiles.
The visit by the NZ Ambassador and his party enabled His Excellency to see for himself a district that has very strong historical New Zealand links. It was pleasing to note that the New Zealand Police are continuing this connection in a very professional manner with a decidedly Kiwi flavour.