1.
LV TAWAU HARBOUR
0.10

2.
MLV TOWN
0.11

3.
LV SHOP HOUSES
0.15

4.
MV INDONESIAN RESIDENTS
0.23

5.
LV MORE SHOP HOUSES (2 SHOTS)
0.31

6.
MV PEDESTRIANS
0.35

7.
MV MALAYSIAN TROOPS (2 SHOTS)
0.43

8.
MLV GURKHA TROOPS INTO TRUCK (2 SHOTS)
0.51

9.
LV BRITISH FRIGATE IN HARBOUR (2 SHOTS)
1.05



Initials AA/V/WH/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TAWAU, ON THE EAST COAST OF SABAH (NORTH BORNEO), IS CURRENTLY THE HOME OF A BATTALION OF THE ROYAL MALAY REGIMENT AND THE TENTH GURKHAS. THEIR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE TOWN FROM RAIDERS, AND TO KEEP ORDER IN THE TOWN.

AS FEELING RUNS HIGH OVER INDONESIA'S ATTITUDE TO MALAYSIA SOME TENSION IS FELT BETWEEN THE INDIGENOUS INHABITANTS OF TAWAU AND THE INDONESIAN POPULATION. SOME 14,000 INDONESIANS LIVE IN SABAH, MOST OF THEM IN AND AROUND TAWAU WHERE THEY ARE HIGHLY VALUED AS PLANTATION WORKERS. FURTHER IMMIGRATION OF INDONESIANS TO SABAH HAS BEEN STOPPED BECAUSE OF THE INDONESIAN VIEW.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SERIOUS CLASHES BETWEEN RAIDERS AND MALAYSIAN TROOPS NEAR TAWAU. ON DECEMBER 29TH RAIDERS KILLED EIGHT MALAYANS AND INJURED 19 MORE IN A SURPRISE ATTACK. AND ON TUESDAY MALAYSIAN SECURITY FORCES CLASHED WITH RAIDERS, KILLING TEN. TWO GURKHAS WERE ALSO KILLED IN THE OPERATION. A BRITISH ARMY STATEMENT SAID THE RAIDERS WERE INDONESIAN.