FED:Aussie troops should stay, says expert

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2010
FED:Aussie troops should stay, says expert

An expert on East Timor says life is as good as it's ever been on the tiny island nation
.. but that doesn't mean Australian troops should leave.

Professor DAMIEN KINGSBURY from Deakin University says he doesn't agree with East Timor's
Prime Minister XANANA GUSMAO .. that the country can now manage its own problems.

He says it's still a fragile society recovering from massive trauma .. and its efforts
to put in place things like education .. healthcare .. communications and transport are
still a work in progress.

Australia has 400 troops in the country along with 75 New Zealand soldiers .. as part
of the Australian-led International Stabilisation Force that went to East Timor in 2006
during a violent crisis.

It's expected to withdraw after the 2012 national election but Timorese media's reported
Mr GUSMAO favours an earlier withdrawal.

AAP RTV gr/jxt/tm

KEYWORD: TIMOR AUST KINGSBURY (MELBOURNE)

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