By Wendy Robertson
Preparations for the October 15 National Day of Action against Australian government and business involvement in the Timor Gap Treaty are under way in all states. The National Day of Action is jointly organised by Resistance, Fretilin (Revolutionary Front for Independent East Timor) and UDT (Union of Democratic Timorese).
The action coincides with the beginning of drilling in the Timor Sea by a consortium of Australian companies: BHP (based in Melbourne), Petroz and Santos (South Australian and Northern Territory oil company) and Sagasco (based in Sydney).
The day will also be one of the many activities building towards the November 12 Dili massacre commemorative demonstrations.
Resistance activists from around the country report that the campaign has broad support and interest from many areas. Walking through the centre of Newcastle, you can't miss the many different Resistance stickers, which call for "Indonesian troops out of East Timor"; suspension of defence ties between Australia and Indonesia; freedom for Xanana Gusmao, the jailed leader of the East Timorese resistance; and BHP out of the Timor Sea.
On September 8, Sydney University Resistance had a banner drop and stall for East Timor. A large "East Timor — Freedom Now!" banner was hung from the foot bridge over Parramatta Road.
Resistance activists handed out campaign leaflets, sold Green Left and encouraged students to sign the East Timor petition, which calls for a halt to exploration in the Timor Gap while the legality of the Timor Gap Treaty is under challenge in the International Court of Justice; suspension of military ties and cooperation with the Indonesian military; and the inclusion of representatives of the East Timorese independence movement in all discussions conducted by the United Nations on East Timor. Sydney Resistance has also produced a special "East Timor — Freedom Now" badge.
Public meetings to launch the campaign have been well attended. The Adelaide launch was attended by 50 people and addressed by Resistance speakers, Melanie Sjoberg from Green Left Weekly, and Andy Alcock from the Campaign for an Independent East Timor.
Many state-based East Timor solidarity groups have agreed to support the October 15 National Day of action. In Perth, Friends of East Timor are supporting the day. In Wollongong, the action will be organised by Resistance and Wollongong University environment groups. A meeting of Darwin East Timor solidarity groups has agreed to sponsor the October 15 action. In Melbourne the National Council of Maubere Resistance (CNRM) will also support the campaign.
Actions have also been planned against the visit of Indonesia's vice-president, General Try Sutrisno. Sutrisno was head of the Indonesian armed forces at the time of the Dili massacre and has been instrumental in pushing for closer military ties with Australia. The East Timorese community is planning a demonstration on September 21 in Canberra outside the Indonesian Embassy.
In Sydney, Resistance, Aksi (Indonesia Solidarity Action) and AETA (Australia East Timor Association) have organised a protest outside the Department of Defence office in Liverpool Street on September 23 (phone 690 1977 for further details).
A special benefit for East Timorese orphans, "All In The Family", will be held at the Harbourside Brasserie in Sydney on September 23 and 24. Performers and artists include Midnight Oil, Mental As Anything, Painters and Dockers, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter and well-known Timorese folk singer Agiou Pereira.