Fretilin relaunched in Perth

By Arun Pradhan PERTH — "We want to raise the issue of East Timorese self-determination and justice for our people", Francisco Soares, Fretilin representative for Western Australia told Green Left Weekly. Fretilin was originally formed in May 1974 in East Timor on a platform that demanded independence from Portugal. It soon found itself fighting for independence from Indonesian occupying forces. Fretilin members who have left East Timor have combined with UDT (Timorese Democratic Union) internationally to lead the campaign for an independent East Timor. Soares explained that for some time there have only been informal Fretilin activities in Perth, but with the arrival in Australia of more members it was time for an official launch. Soares said that Fretilin had an excellent working relationship with the well-established UDT community. On Fretilin's priorities, Soares said, "we will help to organise rallies and pickets, and to maintain knowledge of our culture and heritage, but above all we will fight for self-determination".

From GLW issue 212