Student delegation returns from East Timor

By Ray Fulcher

MELBOURNE On February 20, a delegation of six students from the University of Melbourne returned from a 10-day trip to build links between students in Australia and East Timor.

Alex Simons, Minh Tan, David Littman, Samantha Cole, Carla Jackson and Elise Luxemburg were sponsored by University Students for East Timor and endorsed by the University of Melbourne Student Union and the National Union of Students. Cole stated that the intention of the trip was to "experience East Timor first hand ... and to show that students had a role to play in supporting human rights".

Jackson said that the Timorese want the Australian government to change its position on East Timor and use its votes in the UN. To that end. the delegation will be campaigning to "pressure the Australian government to end its support to the Suharto regime", she said.

The delegation collected testimony of the daily repression experienced by the Timorese and witnessed an Indonesian military raid on a number of houses.

Tan investigated women's health and was told of "school age women being lined up in class and given Norplant implants or Depo Provera", and of one woman who had been raped by Indonesian soldiers because she was "suspected of having links with the clandestine movement".

Transmigration was also a major concern amongst the Timorese. Transmigrants dominate shops and business in Dili to the disadvantage of the East Timorese. Indonesia also promotes transmigration of Timorese to Indonesia. This is seen as an attempt to dilute the Timorese struggle for self-determination.

According to Littman the Timorese saw some hope in the "ground swell of the democracy movement in Indonesia, but not in the upcoming elections, which are regarded as rigged".

The Australian students brought with them a statement by East Timorese and high school students detailing repression by the Indonesian army, demanding the release of political prisoners, especially Xanana Gusmao, calling for a United Nations-conducted referendum and asking for support from world governments.

Jackie Lynch, NUS national education officer, said that Indonesia's foreign minister, Ali Alatas, was scheduled to visit Australia this year and this could be a focus for action.

"We will also be trying to make direct links between education institutions in Australia and their counterparts in East Timor", said Littman.

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