Lindsay Murdoch, Dili – Australian embassy officials and staff in Dili have tightened their security as unidentified people spread rumours that appear to be aimed at provoking attacks against Australians in East Timor.
Mal Rerden, the commander of Australia's troops in Dili, yesterday described as "completely unfounded" a story in one of East Timor's newspapers quoting witnesses claiming that Australian troops were responsible for the deaths of two young men who were murdered on Friday.
Page one headlines in the Suara Timor Lorosae newspaper said the men were killed by Australian forces. "These stories are being manipulated by some elements ... these groups clearly don't want to have a professional, impartial security force here probably because we are stopping them doing what they want to do," Brigadier Rerden said.
He has ordered his troops to investigate the source of the rumours, which are fuelling anti-Australian sentiment at a time of escalating violence in Dili that has left up to 10 people dead in the past week.
Brigadier Rerden said he was "focusing very carefully" on who was feeding the rumours because it was important they "don't start feeding on themselves". But he added: "I don't think it's the front end of a real threat."
Australian embassy officials have begun removing paintings and stickers on vehicles or properties that identify them as Australian owned.
The waterfront residential compound of Australian diplomats was attacked by stone-throwing youths for the first time last week.
Allegations that Australian security forces have been responsible for killings, or are taking sides in the conflict, are being circulated by SMS messages in Dili. And Australian troops and police in Dili are coming under increasing attack and abuse when they respond to the gang violence that erupts most afternoons.
The violence has prompted MPs to question the way Australian troops are operating in the country.
They have moved a resolution in Parliament asking for the United Nations Security Council to insist that Australian troops be put under UN command. Manual Tilman, leader of one of the biggest opposition parties, said yesterday that obvious "friction" between the Australian troops and other international security forces in Dili had led to an almost unanimous vote for the resolution.
The Howard Government in August won UN approval to keep command of the force for six months after obtaining the support of the US, Britain and Japan.
East Timor's Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta has backed Australia's stand, saying on Friday that it was both "logical and necessary to accept our neighbour's generosity".
East Timor army commander Tuar Matan Ruak wants his government to investigate the conduct of Australian troops in Dili. He told journalists that claims Australians have taken sides in the conflict have damaged the Australian Defence Force's prestige.
Carlos Belo, Nobel laureate and former bishop in Dili, has described the situation in East Timor as "unhuman". He has appealed for people to work towards peace.