East Timor protests target Habibie
By Andrew Hall
SYDNEY — More than 150 people picketed the Regent Hotel on May 26 over the visit of Dr B.J. Habibie, Indonesia's research and technology minister and close confidant of President Suharto. The picket was organised by Resistance and Aksi — Indonesia Solidarity Action as part of the campaign for a Free East Timor.
It was a loud and lively protest, with demonstrators blocking the entrance of the hotel for an hour to hear speakers from Fretilin, Resistance, Aksi, AETA (Australian East Timor Association) and the Democratic Socialist Party, as well as recent arrivals from East Timor.
Between chants such as "Suharto/Habibie/Evans is a butcher; free East Timor Now", "No military aid to Indonesia", and "BHP, ALP out of the Timor Sea", speakers mentioned the role of Habibie as Indonesia's weapons chief, and that arms deals were occurring between Australia and Indonesia despite the atrocious human rights record of the Suharto government.
In Melbourne, Habibie's visit took place under a blanket of police security. The two-day visit, which included a meeting with Premier Jeff Kennett, provided an opportunity for the Federal Police to boast of their secretiveness: the press was full of how Habibie had been able to "elude protesters". This didn't prevent police from harassing those who were able to catch up with him, however.
In Perth, about 120 vocal refugee East Timorese and supporters of self-determination for East Timor gave Habibie an unwelcome reception when he arrived in Australia on May 21.
Despite Habibie's semi-secret arrival and schedule, opponents of the Indonesian regime's occupation were quickly able to draw together a spirited picket at the Hyatt Hotel. A delegation delivered a letter to him protesting against the Indonesian occupation and threats being made against visiting radical Indonesian academic George Aditjondro.