Worldwide solidarity with Indonesian pro-democracy movement

Worldwide solidarity with Indonesian pro-democracy movement

Demonstrations in solidarity with Indonesia's pro-democracy activists were held around the world last week. Many took place on May 20 to coincide with the mass student protests in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities. A common demand was to end all military aid to Indonesia.

In the United States, protests were held outside Indonesia's embassy in Washington and consular offices in Chicago, New York City and San Francisco. The actions were held over three days from May 19 and co-sponsored by the East Timor Alert Network, IndonesiaAlert! and Global Exchange.

ETAN released a statement on May 20 calling on the US government not to provide any weapons, ammunition, spare parts or military training to Indonesia for so long as repression of political freedoms and human rights continues and until arrangements have been made for a UN-supervised self-determination referendum in East Timor.

One hundred demonstrators picketed the Indonesian embassy in Manila on May 20, demanding democracy in Indonesia. The action was coordinated by PHILSETI, Philippines Solidarity with East Timor and Indonesia, and supported by progressive Filipino organisations, including the Asia Pacific Coalition for East Timor, Sanlakas, BISIG, Kamalayan Youth, and the League of Filipino Students. A representative from the Australian-based Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor was also present.

In the commercial district of Hiroshima, Japanese protesters also held an action on May 20. A statement handed out to passers-by called on the Japanese government to send “a strong unambiguous” message to Jakarta demanding fundamental reforms.

One activist who was present at the time of the storming of the Indonesian Democratic Party office by the military in July 1996 told the protesters, “The Indonesian people are no different from us. They too want to enjoy the freedom to speak out without fear of arrest and torture.”

Another demonstration on May 20 took place outside the Foreign Office in London. Organised by Tapol, the Indonesian Human Rights Campaign, the rally demanded an immediate end to arms sales to Indonesia and condemned the British government's support for the Suharto dictatorship.

Pressure is mounting on the Blair Labour government to suspend the delivery of 16 Hawk jet fighters to Indonesia, due to take place in June. Carmel Budiarjo, a Tapol spokesperson, stated on May 19: “Despite attempts by the present government to distance itself from the policies of the previous government, the fact is that the ethical policy has not meant any reductions in the number of licences issued since last May”.

Since the Blair government came to office, only six of the 51 licences requested for the export of arms have been denied. Of the outstanding £1.8 billion of export credit guarantees provided to Indonesia, £855 million is for military equipment.

The annual human rights report released last month by the Foreign Office described the relationship between Indonesia and Britain as a “constructive partnership”. The report features a photograph of British foreign secretary Robin Cook shaking hands with the now deposed dictator Suharto.

Tapol, the Campaign Against Arms Trade and students from Hull University are also planning a campaign against the presence of Indonesian army officers at Hull University. Ten Indonesian officers, including seven from the infamous Kopassus special forces, are enrolled in the “studies in security and strategy for defence professionals” course.

The East Timor Independence Committee (ETIC) in New Zealand is planning a demonstration for June 3 outside the defence headquarters to condemn the New Zealand government's training of Indonesian army officers. NZ minister for defence Max Bradford praised the Indonesian military for its “eminently responsible” role during the student protests there.

Bradford argues that New Zealand should continue links with the Indonesian military to maintain “dialogue”. ETIC spokesperson Maire Leadbeater condemned this approach, stating: “Most of the courses attended by Indonesian officers in the past years have involved studies with close relevance to the military role of suppressing demonstrators”.