Rowdy neighbours

摘要

With its palm-fringed views over a sparkling blue sea, Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, looks as glamorous as any tropical holiday paradise. But for the past year its airport has been busy not only with tourists and business travellers, but also with soldiers and military aircraft commuting to Dili, the capital of East Timor, just 500km across the water. In September last year, after the former Portuguese colony's vote for independence from Indonesia sparked a massacre by pro-Indonesian militias, Darwin became the departure point for the Australian-led, UN-mandated International Force East Timor (interfet), made up of about 5,000 Australian troops and 4,500 from other countries. interfet has now been replaced by a United Nations transitional administration, but Australia maintains a strong presence on the island.