Join the campaign against the Indonesian dictatorship!

May 20, 1998
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Join the campaign against the Indonesian dictatorship!

On May 15, emergency pickets were held in many Australian cities to demand that the government cut all ties with the Suharto dictatorship and the Indonesian military, and to show solidarity with the Indonesian democracy movement. The protests were organised by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET).

Further solidarity actions will be held around the country over the next two weeks.

In Canberra, more than 50 people joined a speak-out in Civic, reports Nikki Ulasowski. Speakers included Rose Tracey, president of the National Union of Students; Harry Greenwell, president of Australian National University Student Association; Dave Gosling from ASIET; Will Williams from Resistance; and Gareth Smith from Canberra Program For Peace.

A picture of Suharto was burnt as protesters chanted "Suharto is a butcher, Howard is his friend". Gosling said, "because of the strong role that Australian governments have played in supporting the dictator, the Australian people have an important role in ending this ruthless collaboration."

Further actions in Canberra will include a 24-hour hunger strike, beginning at 5pm on May 29. The ACT Trades and Labor Council will impose a picket on the Indonesian embassy to disrupt the delivery of goods and services. To get involved in the campaign, telephone 6247 2424.

John Nebauer reports that 70 people attended a spirited protest outside the Indonesian consulate in Melbourne. The rally, organised by ASIET and University Students for East Timor, condemned the increasing brutality the Suharto regime is using against student protests.

Leigh Hubbard, secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, called on the Australian government to suspend planned joint exercises with Indonesia's navy. ASIET's Vannessa Hearman condemned both major parties' hypocrisy and asked, "Why didn't Gareth Evans and the ALP support the democracy movement when they were in power?".

Ray Fulcher, education officer at Melbourne University emphasised the need for solidarity with Indonesia's democracy movement to be built amongst students, workers and broad sections of Australian society.

A number of protesters chained themselves to the front of the consulate. They were "shot" by a protester dressed as an Indonesian soldier and spattered with red paint to symbolise the blood spilt by the Indonesian military.

ASIET will be holding an emergency public meeting with Indonesian student leader and People's Democratic Party international representative Edwin Gozal on May 21, 6.30pm, at the Resistance Centre, 14 Anthony St, Melbourne. The meeting will initiate a campaign to broaden solidarity with the Indonesian democracy movement. Telephone 9329 1277.

Tuntuni Bhattacharyya reports that about 80 people picketed Garuda Airlines' office in Sydney. Speakers included Gozal, Estanislau da Silva from the National Council for Timorese Resistance and Fretilin, Andrew McNaughton from the Australia East Timor Association, Jill Hickson from ASIET, and Sean Healy from Resistance.

Gozal stressed the importance of overthrowing not only Suharto but the entire New Order regime. He called for the formation of an independent council representing all opposition parties and demanded the nationalisation of the Suharto family's assets and those of the president's business cronies. Da Silva and McNaughton explained the repressive Indonesian military occupation of East Timor and Healy urged everyone to get involved in the national days of action, May 28-30.

On May 27 and 28, campus forums will be held on Sydney University and UNSW to inform students about the latest events. On May 29, a community information day will be held, including stalls at high schools and leafleting in the city. In the evening, the film Indonesia Calling, about the maritime union's support for the Indonesian independence struggle in the 1940s, will be shown in the Resistance Centre. This event will launch a 24-hour hunger strike by activists.

On May 30, a widely endorsed rally will be held at Town Hall. Protesters will then march to the defence department building and regional BHP office. For more information, telephone Resistance on 9690 1977 or ASIET on 9690 1032.

Edward Johnstone from Brisbane told Green Left Weekly that a spirited demonstration in the Queen Street Mall, organised by ASIET and Resistance, demanded an end to all Australian aid to the Suharto regime. Protesters included students, academics and trade unionists. They demanded that the Australian government call on Suharto's entire government to resign immediately.

Speakers demanded the release of all political prisoners, that Suharto be put on trial for crimes against his own people and that the whole apparatus of Suharto's military-backed rule be dismantled. Chanting "Suharto is a butcher, Howard is his friend", protesters drew attention to the fact that Australia remains the Suharto regime's firmest ally, oblivious to its atrocities against the people of Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh.

Pickets were also held in Adelaide and Perth.

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