ASIA: Australian musicians play Suai today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2000
ASIA: Australian musicians play Suai today

Australian entertainers are continuing their Christmas tour towards the West Timor
border, more worried about attacks from mosquitoes than by the militia.

The "Tour de Force East Timor 2000" began in Dili on Sunday night when 500 Australian
soldiers and thousands of East Timorese were entertained for more than three hours by
Australian musicians.

Last night, there was a concert at the United Nations sector-west headquarters at Suai,
with Melbourne-based Taxi Ride at the top of the bill.

Tonight, another concert will be staged at Balibao, where most of the Australian peacekeepers
patrolling the border are based.

Whitlams lead singer TIM FREEDMAN says he expects the sense of danger to grow as the
tour moves into militia territory closer to the border where two Australian soldiers have
been wounded in attacks this month.

But he says he's more apprehensive about mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria.

AAP RTV rmg/jtb/sub/et

KEYWORD: TIMOR CONCERT (DILI)

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