Action updates

Issue 

BRISBANE — The Democratic Socialist Party presented a launch of the magazine Links at a dinner held in the Resistance Centre on September 17. Some 70 people heard speakers from Australian Aid for Ireland, the Latin American solidarity community and the DSP speak on the importance of linking the new struggles of the oppressed internationally, and the potential role of Links in helping create these connections.

  • A referendum at the University of Queensland to determine the student association's position on abortion has resulted in a victory for the Pro-Choice campaign. The results were 1997 Yes votes, 1450 No and 250 abstentions. Andree Stark, a pro-choice activist, commented, "The campaign was a huge success, and it clearly indicates that students have a genuine concern for women's rights. The next stage is to continue the struggle for abortion rights in the wider community until abortion is decriminalised and is available to all women on demand."

  • "More than 150,000 Guatemalans were murdered, 'disappeared' by the military regime during 30 years of civil war", Dr Coral Wynter told an information night sponsored by the Guatemalan Human Rights Committee here on September 24. Wynter, who visited Guatemala as part of a trip to Central America earlier this year, explained that the repression of the indigenous Indian people of Guatemala was the most severe in Latin America.

  • Hundreds of local residents rallied at Jacobs Well, near Beenleigh, south of Brisbane, on September 18, to protest against plans for a sewerage plant, which they say will destroy local business and marine life. Protesters are angry that their small coastal town was selected to house a plant that would service a community half the size of Brisbane.

DARWIN — Supporters of independence for East Timor picketed the Indonesian consulate for two consecutive mornings on September 22 and 23, in protest at the visit of Indonesian General Try Sutrisno. Sutrisno was described by the local media as the "massacre general". Protesters on both mornings were met by a strong police presence. Police were particularly keen to stop picketers shining mirrors into the consulate's security cameras, which continually scan protests.

MELBOURNE — Up to 100 people attended a second Pride Day at Latrobe University on September 22. The previous Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Pride Day on September 8 was marred by an off-campus group of Christian fundamentalists who harassed the activists. Stalls on September 22 were set up by supportive organisations. Motions were passed for solidarity with the anti-homophobic movement in Tasmania.

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