Timor 1942 - 2006

Remembering 1942 - The battles on Timor, 20-23 February, 1942 - Sparrow Force to Timor - On Timor the garrison was given the code-name Sparrow Force. Sparrow Force was to defend the island and protect the airfield at Penfui. The Force was confronted by a particularly complex problem as it did not have the resources to deploy to all of the possible sites at which an invader might land. Its task was further complicated by the political division of the island. The western half of the island was part of the Netherlands East Indies, an ally of Australia, but the eastern half and an enclave at Ocussi on the north coast were territories of neutral Portugal. Portugal was opposed to the stationing of Dutch or Australian troops as it felt that this was unnecessarily provocative toward the Japanese.

How the conflict has unfolded May 27, 2006
Nearly 600 heavily-armed soldiers were sacked from East Timor's army, the F-FDTL, at the beginning of this month after going on strike. They took their weapons and set up camp in the hills.
Most are born in the western areas of Timor. They complain of discrimination at the hands of eastern-born officers. Their probably-justified complaints have largely been ignored by the Timorese Government.
Riots broke out and law and order deteriorated. The 600 soldiers launched sporadic raids on the capital Dili. They are led by Alfredo Alves Reinado, an officer born on the western side of Timor, who has done some training in Australia.