✨ Bravery Award Citation
21 MAY 2008 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 86 2311
although the F-FDTL soldiers came to assist them, the
soldiers were unable to resolve the dispute or convince the
offenders to release the hostages. The hostages then
requested UNPOL to be contacted. Senior Sergeant Allan
Stewart responded to the request from his headquarters in
Dili and accompanied by a fellow Portuguese officer acting
as his interpreter, he began a tense negotiation with the
offenders and other IDP militants.
He entered the camp alone (with the interpreter) and was
fully aware of the hostility the residents had towards
UNPOL and that more assistance was some distance away.
He was also aware that the offenders were armed with a
variety of weapons and a hostile crowd had formed. After
calming the tense atmosphere and checking on the status of
the hostages, he began the negotiation for the release of the
hostages. He sat amongst the agitators for some 20 minutes
listening to their concerns whilst at the same time advising
them that their actions were unacceptable and that the
hostages must be released. Several times over this period,
the crowd became agitated and aggressive and twice
threatened to break off talks with Sergeant Allan Stewart.
On both occasions, he managed to calm the offenders down
and finally arranged the return of the vehicle keys so the
hostages could leave while he remained to hear the
resident’s grievances.
No injuries resulted from this incident, but there was real
potential for violence and attacks against the hostages,
which was evidenced in the unrest which followed the next
day. Throughout this incident, Senior Sergeant Allan
Stewart displayed tact and negotiation skills, which together
with his bravery and professionalism secured the release of
the hostages and prevented them from further injury or even
death.
Dated this 3rd day of May 2008,
REBECCA KITTERIDGE, Clerk of the Executive Council.
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Online Sources for this page:
VUW Te Waharoa —
NZ Gazette 2008, No 86
Gazette.govt.nz —
NZ Gazette 2008, No 86
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New Zealand Bravery Medal Awarded
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration3 May 2008
Bravery Award, New Zealand Bravery Medal, N.Z.B.M., Citation, Timor-Leste, United Nations
- Allan Stewart (Senior Sergeant), Awarded New Zealand Bravery Medal
- REBECCA KITTERIDGE, Clerk of the Executive Council