Self-determination struggles discussed

Self-determination struggles discussed

By Jo Williams

MELBOURNE — A forum organised by Resistance on June 21 brought together young people from the Kurdish, East Timorese and Tamil communities to discuss their people's struggles for self-determination.

Rajeevan Arumugam outlined the history of the struggle of the Tamil people and showed a video, smuggled out of Sri Lanka, revealing the brutality inflicted on the Tamils by the Sri Lankan military and police. Dhananjayan Sriskan, from Sydney, described his experiences as a Tamil student in Australia. He called on Australians to support and raise awareness about the Tamil's struggle.

Joachim Santos, Melbourne leader of the East Timorese organisation Fretilin, spoke about the resistance of his people to the brutal occupation by the Indonesian dictatorship. Santos emphasised that freedom for East Timor is a crucial demand in the fight for democracy in Indonesia.

Kurtulus Zengin, a Kurdish activist and member of Resistance, explained the history of the Kurdish fight for independence, and noted similarities with the Tamil and East Timorese struggles.

Further actions, forums and events in solidarity with the liberation struggles of the Tamils, Kurds and East Timorese will be discussed at the Resistance national conference in Melbourne from July 11-13. For more information, phone 9329 1320.

From GLW issue 323