BY MAX LANE
PERTH — Almost 700 people turned out on February 4 to hear John Pilger condemn the corporate media bias in coverage of, and academic silence on, the so-called war against terrorism, refugees, globalisation and Australian government support for the Suharto dictatorship in Indonesia.
Pilger's address was part of a conference on human rights and the media in Indonesia, organised by Curtin University. It was followed by a showing of his latest documentary, New rulers of the world, which tackles globalisation and its impact on Indonesia. This conference session was co-organised with Green Left Weekly.
Pilger condemned the decision of the government-funded Australia Indonesia Institute to block funding for the conference because of Pilger's presence in the program.
The conference proceeded over two days. In a clearly presented paper, ABC broadcaster Peter Mares argued that the government should offer to bring to Australia all the refugees currently based in Indonesia. Other highlights of the program were documentaries on the killing fields of Aceh and the suppression of the Indonesian Communist Party in 1965.
Overall, however, the conference reflected the distance from reality currently exhibited by many Australian academic Indonesianists. The terrible economic crisis caused by the IMF onslaught into Indonesia was not discussed.
Pilger will be elaborating on his critique of the Australian media and intellectual life at a major public meeting to be held at Sydney Town Hall on March 1.
From Green Left Weekly, February 13, 2002.
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