East Timor: Plunkett Allegations

Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The SBS Dateline program on Wednesday 16
May included statements by Captain Andrew Plunkett that while in East Timor in
1999, he was under orders from his �chain of command� to �go soft� on the numbers
of deaths and extent of TNI complicity in the killings.� Captain Plunkett further alleges that these
orders originated from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
categorically denies that the department or any of its officers were the source
of any such orders.

Inquiries: DFAT
Media Liaison Section 02 6261 1555

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