Protest supports free Aceh

Wednesday, April 25, 2001 - 10:00

SYDNEY — In lively scenes reminiscent of the 1990s' campaign for East Timor's freedom, about 100 protesters — many of them Acehnese — gathered outside the Indonesian consulate here on April 21 to demand the Indonesian military leave Aceh and a referendum be held. Max Lane from Action in the Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor, Mohommad Dahlan from the Aceh-Australia Association, Rex Rumakiek from the Australia-West Papua Association, Andrew McNaughton from Australia East Timor Association and Kerryn Williams from Resistance spoke. Nieke, a visiting leader of the Indonesian People's Democratic Party, received cheers from the crowd for her party's pledge to continue fighting for the aspirations of the majority of Acehnese — for a democratic and peaceful referendum on self-determination.

Photo by Pip Hinman

From GLW issue 445