Politics in the Pub discusses East Timor

Politics in the Pub discusses East Timor

By Bernie Wunsch

LISMORE — Forty people attended a lively discussion on East Timor sponsored by Green Left Weekly on February 25. The event was a great start to this city's Politics in the Pub series for 2000.

Nick Fredman and Kath O'Driscoll spoke about their recent visit to the newly independent nation. East Timor still faces massive challenges, they argued, even though it won a great victory in ousting the Indonesian occupiers.

The United Nations and major aid organisations are resisting calls for speedier reconstruction, democratic control by the East Timorese, justice for workers and better distribution of food and services, Fredman said. Foreign, particularly Australian, capital is moving quickly to exploit the situation.

O'Driscoll spoke about her meetings with the East Timorese groups that are organising workers, farmers, and women to campaign for their rights.

A meeting to relaunch a local committee of Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) has been called for March 3, 6pm, at the Lismore Workers Club.

Politics in the Pub will be held on the last Friday of each month at the Winsome Hotel in North Lismore.

From GLW issue 395