Major Shay Bassett, UNMO in Dili.
1 March 2008
Devonport man Shay Bassett says the hardest thing about serving with the United Nations in Timor-Leste is being separated from his wife and three young children, but that the job itself is extremely rewarding.
Shay is a Major in the New Zealand Army and has been based in Dili for the last four months where he is part of the New Zealand contribution to the United Nations (UN) mission to that country.
The UN mission to Timor-Leste employs officers from around the world as military observers. The observers are unarmed, and work in small teams monitoring and reporting on activities that may impact the day to day security situation in the country.
Shay has been in the New Zealand Army for 28 years and this is not his first trip to Timor.
“In 2000 I came here as part of New Zealand’s third battalion rotation. At that time we were based on the other side of the island so it’s great being in a different part of the country, seeing different things and experiencing Timor-Leste from a different perspective.
“In 2000 the threat we faced was different too. We were armed and the threat was from militia groups across the border. Now the focus is very much on internal threats to stability so that dynamic has changed.
“When I was first offered this role, I was a little hesitant because I would be unarmed and because I had not done this sort of work before. I am finding it really rewarding and I love the flexibility and autonomy this job gives me and have absolutely no regrets about taking it.
“It’s really interesting to be working with such a diverse range of nationalities, organisations, and individuals and to have the wide mandate to get involved in what we see happening and get things done.
“At the end of the day it’s great that New Zealand is here, this country is still facing tough times and may be for some time to come. The people here really want to get the place standing on its feet and as their neighbours and friends we have a responsibility to help them get to the point where they can make that dream a reality.
“This is a great job because every day I can see how I am directly, on both an individual level and as part of a much bigger international effort, helping to make a difference.”
New Zealand has contributed to various United Nations and peacekeeping efforts in Timor-Leste since 1999. The commitment to Timor-Leste is the largest one for the New Zealand Defence Force and at present consists of more than 180 Defence personnel and two helicopters serving with the Combined Joint Task Force as well as two Military Liaison Officers serving with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and two advisors to the Timor-Leste Defence Force.
ENDS
Currently 664 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed on 17 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world.
For further information please contact Nicole Munro-Johnson, Defence Public Relations, on 04 529 6033 or 021 569 148.