International day of support for democracy in Indonesia
"We expect the first international actions in support of the Indonesian democratic movement to be one of the widest series of solidarity actions for many years", Max Lane told a seminar organised by ASIET (Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor) on August 30 in Sydney. Other speakers at the seminar included Indonesian dissident academic Dr George Aditjondro and People's Democratic Party (PRD) overseas representative Nico Warouw.
The 100 people at the seminar contributed $400 for the ASIET campaign in defence of the PRD and other democratic activists.
"Since ASIET launched its appeal internationally three weeks ago, there has been a fantastic response", said Lane, the ASIET national coordinator. "Endorsements for the appeal have come in from leading academics, progressive political groups and trade union groups in the Philippines, India, Nepal, Hong Kong, Thailand, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada, the US, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Hungary, Portugal and Sweden."
The first major event in the campaign will be an international day of protest for human rights and democracy in Indonesia scheduled for October 28. October 28 is the anniversary of the 1928 Indonesian Youth Congress which helped unite Indonesia's youth in its struggle against Dutch colonialism.
"In Australia there are plans for 24-hour hunger strikes and vigils outside Indonesian consulates and Indonesian business houses in all major cities. To help build support for this day, Nico Warouw will be visiting Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth", Lane told Green Left Weekly after the seminar. Warouw has already visited Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Campbelltown and Bathurst.
"We will be urging all people concerned about the struggle for democracy in Indonesia and the struggle for liberation in East Timor to join this campaign. Today ASIET has sent letters seeking endorsement of this international day to all the traditional East Timor solidarity committees in Australia. Luisa Pereira, coordinator of the Commission for the Rights of the Maubere People, in Portugal, and Marie Leadbeater, from the Auckland East Timor Independence Committee, have endorsed the campaign."
Support in Asia
Strong support is coming from the mass progressive forces in Asia, said Lane, especially the All India Central Council of Trade Unions. The AICCTU's message stated: "We have already begun to contact various Left-led mass organisations and prominent democratic rights activists and progressive citizens. Solidarity conventions are proposed to be held in Delhi and other major centres including Calcutta within the next few weeks so that the protest day of October 28 can be organised successfully."
The message, from general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, also stated: "The nightmarish memories of the large-scale slaughter of communists and progressive democrats in the Indonesia are still fresh in our minds. The ongoing witch-hunt of PRD, PPBI and PDI leaders and activists marks a desperate attempt to nip in the bud a movement which promises to shape up as a great popular resurgence of Left and democratic aspirations."
Philippines Workers Solidarity (BMP) has already organised a picket outside the Indonesian embassy in Manila and is planning a major event on October 28.
Soon after the events in Jakarta on July 27, Thai NGOs sent a protest statement to Jakarta signed by Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD) and joined by Union for Civil Liberty, Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Organisations in Thailand, Foundation for Children, Thammasat University Student Union, Student Federation of Thailand, Student Christian Centre, Youth Training Program for Social Development, Thai Volunteer Service, Slum Dwellers' Organisation for Democracy, Labour Congress of Thailand, Political Economy Study Group, Forum of the Poor, Solidarity Asia, Asian Cultural Forum on Development and student groups, academics, journalist, social workers and professionals.
The statement condemned the Suharto dictatorship's attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party campaign, the arrest of labour advocate Muchtar Pakpahan and the campaign against the PRD.
In Hong Kong, the Asian Students Association has organised a demonstration outside the Indonesian consulate condemning the crackdown on the PRD and other activists.
Europe
"We are also very happy with the response to the ASIET appeal from Europe", said Lane. "The Indonesian community in the Netherlands is already organising their hunger strike and has united behind support for the PRD. The Indonesian Tragedy Foundation, headed by the author of the epic history of the Indonesian massacres of 1965, Siregar, is helping to coordinate the actions.
"The prestigious Wertheim Award has been given to Indonesia's young labour leader, Dita Sari, now in jail. Other Dutch groups have sent support to ASIET and will be working with the Indonesian activists."
The Party of Democratic Socialism in Germany has taken up the issue and is campaigning in Germany's trade unions. A meeting of all left and progressive parties represented in the European Parliament is scheduled to discuss the issue to decide on possible Europe-wide campaigns. The issue will be raised in the German parliament as soon as it resumes.
The Left Alternative Forum in Budapest will be preparing activities and has endorsed the campaign. The United Left in Spain has indicated support, and the issue has been covered in the major Spanish dailies.
North America.
Amongst the 150 or so endorsements over the last three weeks from the USA have been many responses from grassroots political and labour organisations, Lane added. Branches of the Green Party, from California to Massachusetts to New Orleans, and numerous activists and branches of the progressive political network Solidarity have sent in endorsements.
Supportive leaders and activists from labour groups come from Jobs with Justice, Washington DC; Communication Workers of America; International Union of Operating Engineers, Washington, DC; Coalition of University Employees, California; International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Immigrant Rights Action Network, Nashville, Tennessee; American Federation of Government Employees; and Service Employees International Union.
Endorsements have also been sent by a range of community and activist organisations, ranging from the National Organisation of Women to Chicano and Pacific Islander migrant support organisations.
In Canada, support has come from leaders and activists from the Canadian Auto Workers Social Justice Fund, British Columbia Teachers Federation and Hamilton Coalition Against Poverty.