Work on legal issues was done in panels and workshops. Members of the War Crimes Panel answer questions from the floor. L to R: Col. Ian Westwood (Australia), Mr. James Burger (U.S.), Mr. Rene Kosirnik (ICRC), and Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Romig, USA (U.S.).

Australian Navy in East Timor

Australia’s Chief of Navy, Vice Adm. David J. Shackleton, discussed Australia’s naval contributions to recent peacekeeping efforts in East Timor. Adm. Shackleton noted that Australia has a particular interest in international law of the sea issues – a view shared by virtually all conference attendees because of the world’s dependence upon shared access to maritime trade routes. Adm. Shackleton noted that, following the vote for independence in East Timor, the situation deteriorated, prompting UN Security Council Resolution 1264 on 19 September 1999. Because Australia previously had a leading role in humanitarian efforts in East Timor, Australia and a coalition of 18 other countries worked to restore peace, and address other humanitarian issues.

Due to East Timor’s geography, the preferred venue to support humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts was the sea. Adm. Shackleton described the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) contributions to assist the international community:

• Provided combatant and sealift assets to support INTERFET

• Supplied naval aircraft for medical evacuation, troop deployment, and resupply

• Established a logistic support base in Darwin

• Provided other maritime elements (communications, hydrographic, and navy explosive ordnance disposal teams) to support INTERFET

• Provided port services and logistic support to coalition navies

• Effected oversight of all coalition maritime activities

Admiral Shackleton described how Australian support efforts were divided into four phases. Phase one established the preconditions for INTERFET deployment. Maritime units first concentrated in Darwin and conducted specific training. Combined doctrine and standard operating procedures were written and distributed to participants, ensuring a more efficient, coordinated effort. Sea lift ships were then on-loaded with needed supplies, while air and sea surveillance concurrently provided INTERFET participants with an objective "picture" of the situation in East Timor. Darwin was designated the logistic support base for East Timor humanitarian operations, with communications and ancillary support services