'Breaking the links of oppression'

By Alex Bainbridge

NEWCASTLE — Nico Wahid from the Indonesian People's Democratic Party (PRD) and dissident Indonesian researcher George Aditjondro spoke at a July 25 workshop attended by 30 people. The workshop discussed the links of oppression between Australia and Indonesia, the campaign for a free East Timor and plans for Newcastle's "Withdraw Recognition" action on August 24.

Wahid described the recent mass campaign in defence of Indonesian Democratic Party leader Megawati Sukarnoputri against government attack. He urged Australian activists to support the campaign to free Dita Sari, a trade union leader detained for organising recent mass demonstrations.

Aditjondro commended the PRD as the only Indonesian party to support East Timor's right to self-determination. He said that successes for the democracy struggle would boost the Timorese resistance and vice versa. He also argued that the solidarity movement in Australia should increase economic pressure on Jakarta by targeting and exposing Australian companies in Indonesia.

The meeting was hosted by the Australia-Asia Solidarity Network as part of a tour by Wahid throughout NSW campuses organised by Resistance and the National Union of Students. Wahid and Aditjondro also addressed other meetings of unionists, students and the media.

From GLW issue 240