By Kerryn Williams
Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) clubs are being established on universities across the country. Several clubs have already been launched, and more will form in the coming weeks.
The Sydney University ASIET club has held two meetings. The University of Queensland club will kick off on August 20 with an address by touring Indonesian democracy activist Dita Sari and a screening of the film Indonesia in Revolt — Democracy or Death.
The clubs are planning weekly stalls on campus to raise the profile of the campaign, along with screenings of John Pilger's documentary The Timor Conspiracy and footage of the July 1 People's Democratic Party (PRD) rally that was brutally attacked by the police and military.
Many clubs will be conducting solidarity ballots to coincide with the referendum in East Timor in late August. ASIET clubs are planning ways to raise much-needed funds for the Indonesian student movement.
On August 10, after Dita Sari addressed a meeting at Murdoch University attended by 80 people, many students decided to participate in ASIET activities on campus.
On August 23, the Wollongong University ASIET club will be launched with a public meeting featuring touring Indonesian trade union activist Romawaty Sinaga. Romawaty has attended meetings to launch ASIET clubs on Melbourne and La Trobe universities. A meeting at Melbourne University on August 12 attracted 50 people to hear Dita Sari. Twenty people signed up.
Melbourne University Resistance activist and ASIET member Bronwyn Jennings, who participated in the Resistance 10-day solidarity tour to Indonesia in April, told Resistance, "Now is a vital time for the student movement to actively build solidarity with the struggles for democracy in Indonesia and freedom for East Timor.
"The campus ASIET clubs intend to build on the past tradition of students in Australia supporting struggles against oppression internationally. Students in East Timor and Indonesia, who are putting their lives on the line to lead the fight against injustice, need our support more than ever."
"One of the most crucial things that student activists and student unions can do", Jennings explained, "is to mobilise student and community opposition to the Australian government's support for the Indonesian regime. This will be one of the key aims of the new ASIET campus clubs."
To contact ASIET on campus: Tasmania University — phone Kerry on 6234 6397; Melbourne University — phone Ray or Bronwyn on 9329 1320; La Trobe University — phone Arty or Chris on 9329 1320; Northern Territory University — phone Nat on 8981 4714; Wollongong University — phone Simon on 4226 2010; University of Western Sydney — phone Bronwyn on 9635 8449; Australian National University — phone Dave or Jo on 6247 2424; Sydney University — phone Belinda on 9690 1977; University of Queensland — phone Susan on 3254 0565; Newcastle University — phone Anne on 4926 5328. Visit ASIET on the web at <http://www.asiet.org.au>.