Hide and Seek

The world of camouflage among Timor-Leste’s peacekeepers is something to behold. The Kiwis sport snazzy pixilated desert-tones; the troops from the Philippines waiting at the bank wear blue and teal swirls; and the Malaysians and Thais get by in solid navy blue. I just had coffee next to a Brazilian UN Policewoman who stepped off the curb in three-inch heels.

The Australians, however, are no nonsense. Their camo is so pitch-perfect that I worry about running them over when I speed to a birding site in the milky morning light. At night they patrol the main roads, and looking up from dinner at a restaurant, I'll realize that two lines of guys just stalked by in between bites of pad thai.

Yet when they disappeared in the supermarket, I knew that they have taken stealth to new heights.

Please note Exhibits A and B.*



The Aussies are here as part of the Joint Task Force, a force under Australian control composed of soldiers from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal. The UN Police are controlled by UNMIT; there are currently 1,099 UNPOL in Timor Leste, 509 short of the maximum deployment. Numbers are expected to peak for the elections.

* Note also the two peacekeeper staples in the foreground: UHT whole milk and beer.