Indonesian unionists' tour off to good start
Indonesian union leader Dita Sari's Australian tour began when she arrived in Perth to an emotional welcome on August 8, reports Roberto Jorquera. The recently released political prisoner was met by activists from Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET), the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) and Resistance, who presented her with a gift and flowers and unfurled a banner commemorating her tour.
Later that evening Dita attended a welcoming dinner at the Resistance Centre, where she thanked those who had campaigned for her release and spoke of the close ties between the People's Democratic Party (PRD) and the DSP, Resistance and ASIET.
On August 9, Dita attended two workplace meetings organised by Joe MacDonald, secretary of the construction division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
The stop-work meetings were very well attended, one bringing out 250 workers and the other 150. Dita spoke of the political and social conditions that Indonesian workers endure and the continued need for solidarity from Australian workers.
At the end of both meetings, Dita sang a verse from Bob Marley's song "Redemption". A collection at the end of the meetings raised $650 for the union Dita leads, the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggles (FNPBI).
Later that day Dita attended a meeting organised by the TLC which discussed the different unions in Indonesia and the prospects for joint work among them.
On August 10 Dita spoke at the TLC rally against Reith's second wave legislation, at a meeting on Murdoch University organised by the Asian studies department and ASIET and in the evening at a public meeting attended by more than 60 people and organised by ASIET.
At the TLC rally Dita spoke of the close ties between Indonesian and Australian workers and the need for solidarity and urged Australian workers to visit Indonesia.
The Murdoch meeting was attended by 80 students and academic staff who filled to capacity the humanities common room. They heard of the political, economic and social conditions Indonesians face.
At the public meeting Dita described the situations in Aceh and East Timor and the next steps for Indonesian workers. In discussion people asked about the political program of the PRD and of the FNPBI and about the political situation in Indonesia.
Philippa Stanford writes from Adelaide that Dita Sari was cheered and applauded on August 11 spoke to a rally of 12,000 workers protesting Peter Reith's new anti-worker industrial legislation. The rally attracted workers from the public transport and health sectors, both currently involved in industrial action.
Speaking after ACTU secretary Jennie George and local trade unionists, Dita made comments about Australian business moving to Indonesia for cheap labour that tapped an angry sentiment amongst workers whose jobs are threatened.
Later at a reception she met with several state Labor MPs, including opposition leader Mike Rann. Michelle Hogan and Ann Drohan from the UTLC and representatives from the Community and Public Sector Union and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance also attended, pledging support for the trade union movement in Indonesia.
Around 70 people attended an evening public meeting also addressed by Richard Mills from Amnesty International, Marg Sexton from the CPSU and Stuart Munckton from ASIET. Dita described Aceh as Indonesia's second East Timor and urged those attending to raise the issue of democracy in Aceh.
Braving cold, windy weather and a heavy bout of flu, Jo Williams and Martin Iltis report, Dita Sari, had a highly successful two day tour in Melbourne.
The highlight was her address to 100,000 unionists and supporters at the rally against the Liberal government's "second wave" industrial legislation. She told the crowd: "We have to make sure that people like Peter Reith will not ever appear in Indonesia, so that the Indonesian government will not take what he has done to Australian workers as a good example. Australian and Indonesian workers must stand together in solidarity and build a close and strong international link."
Dita's message was warmly received by the crowd. Green Left Weekly was particularly well received, many workers wanting to read the interview with Dita. Bucket collections netted over $300 for the FNPBI.
At a lunchtime meeting of the newly formed ASIET club on Melbourne University, Dita spoke of the positive developments in the Indonesian student movement. She explained how opposition to Suharto was now generalised into opposition against the New Order regime and the military's role in politics.
Dita also outlined how the FNPBI is the only union organisation that is attempting to forge links between worker and student organisations.
About 140 people attended the public meeting. Dita commented on the different the response was now compared to when she was here in 1994. She was surprised and excited to see the enthusiasm and interest. She mentioned often how appreciative she was of the international campaign which contributed to her being a free person once more.
One of the main issues covered in the public meeting was Dita's concern about the program of Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. While Megawati was likely to be the next president thanks to her huge vote from the worker and peasant classes, Megawati has promised the military a continued role in government and has been assuring big business that it will enjoy the same concessions that it does today.
Participants at the public meeting donated almost $500 to the FNPBI.
Dita explained in various trade union forums that the FNPBI faces varied objective problems: because it is a new union formation independent of government and business, it is severely short of finances; many workers do not have faith in unions because of their links to government and business interests; many workers are afraid of being in a genuinely independent union because of job security and the presence of the military in factories and other workplaces.
Dita made it clear that financial aid and solidarity, as well as official links and recognition, were vital from Australian unions to enable the FNPBI to act for the Indonesian masses.
She also invited Australian unionists to tour Indonesia to coincide with next May Day in Jakarta. The invitation was enthusiastically taken up in meetings with the ACTU and Victorian Trades Hall Council, which are planning to send delegations.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union hosted a reception of several different unions. Concrete ways in which trade unions here can support organisations in Indonesia were central in discussions. Delegates were encouraged to sponsor an organiser or shop committee of the FNPBI in a particular area or factory. These ideas generated a very enthusiastic response.
Dita spoke at a dinner of the International Committee for Trade Union Rights which was attended by labour lawyers and trade union officials. A $100 bottle of champagne was auctioned with proceeds going to the FNPBI.
From Brisbane, Tim E. Stewart reports that the Queensland Council of Unions and four affiliated trade unions have backed the forthcoming tour of Dita Sari and Romawaty Sinaga. The Queensland branch of Amnesty International and the International Women's Day Collective have also agreed to sponsor the visit.
When approached by ASIET in Brisbane, many trade union officials indicated their moral support for the struggle in Indonesia. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union, the Transport Workers Union, the Community and Public Sector Union, and the Miscellaneous Workers Union have donated money and volunteered other resources.
In a letter congratulating ASIET, the Public Transport Union stated, "As fellow unionists, we are conscious of the struggle of workers in Indonesia and believe that we all can learn from the experiences that Dita Sari and Romawaty Sinaga would share with us".
As well as a major public meeting at the Queensland Council of Unions auditorium, Dita will be launching an ASIET club at the University of Queensland and speaking at a Green Left Weekly fundraising dinner.
Romawaty will be guest at a special trade union reception at the CPSU offices. She has also been invited by organisers to attend an APHEDA function which is raising money for an East Timor section of the trade union SBSI.
For more information on the Queensland part of the tour, phone 07 32540565.