Asian activists address secondary students
By Kerryn Williams
CANBERRA — Touring activists Edwin Gozal from the Indonesian People's Democratic Party (PRD) and East Timorese writer Naldo Rai addressed a packed lunchtime forum at Narrabundah College on September 1.
Rai described the continuing Indonesian military occupation of East Timor and highlighted the support the Australian government gives to the Suharto dictatorship.
Gozal explained the working and living conditions faced by Indonesian people under Suharto's rule and the state of the ongoing struggle for democracy.
Both speakers called for an end to Australia's military ties with Indonesia, for the release of the political prisoners and for the East Timorese refugees to be allowed to stay in Australia.
Many questions were asked about the struggles in Indonesia and East Timor, the dangers faced by young activists and what can be done here to support their struggles.
Gozal and Rai spoke at a range of other public meetings and functions, including at the Australian National University and the University of Canberra, and gave greetings to the Resistance Rock Offensive Against Racism.
Gozal also addressed the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee and met with trade union and student leaders.
Tony Iltis reports that Gozal spoke at meetings in Hobart and Launceston. At an ASIET/Green Left Weekly fundraising dinner on September 3, he launched the Free the Political Prisoners Campaign. The following day he addressed students at Tasmania University, explaining the role of students in the Indonesian democracy movement.
On September 5, Gozal addressed a meeting of Resistance, where he explained how the PRD distributed its clandestine newspaper Liberation and used it to build a network of activists and supporters.
Gozal was invited by the four Tasmanian Green MPs for dinner at Parliament House; they decided to set up a state branch of Parliamentarians for Democracy in Indonesia.
The Free the Political Prisoners campaign was launched in Launceston at a public meeting on September 6.
From Melbourne, Vannessa Hearman reports that a public meeting, addressed by Gozal and Rai there on September 12, launched the Free the Political Prisoners petition campaign. Public meetings were also held on campuses, including at Melbourne, La Trobe and Monash universities.