Activists picket Malaysian diplomat
By Tim E. Stewart
DARWIN — Following news on November 12 of a visit by the Malaysian high commissioner, the Democratic Socialist Party, Australians for a Free East Timor, the Territory Australian Greens and the NT Trades and Labour Council worked to build a lightning picket on November 13.
The picket was based on a letter to be presented to the high commissioner during meetings with Northern Territory government ministers. The letter condemned the Malaysian government's actions in preventing the East Timor conference in Kuala Lumpur from being held the previous weekend.
A key speaker at the action was one of the Australian guests deported from the conference, Sister Pat O'Brien from Christians in Solidarity with East Timor. Reading out the letter on the steps of the NT parliament, she demanded an official apology and compensation to the organisers and participants of the conference; the release of those still detained by Malaysian authorities; and respect for the right to freedom of speech. She called on the Malaysian government to recognise the right of East Timor to self-determination and call on the Indonesian government to end its occupation of East Timor.
DSP member Tim Stewart told the picket that in supporting the Malaysian government's actions, both the Coalition government and the ALP had revealed their true political colours.
Publicity of the picket in local media was completely overshadowed by an incident involving Darwin identity Shell-63. Plain-clothes security dragged Shell to the ground and held him by the throat after he jumped into the Malaysian high commissioner's car when it arrived at a back entrance to the parliament building.