By Sarah Peart
More than 700 people attended some 40 events organised by Resistance and other East Timor solidarity groups during the week of action for a "Free East Timor and Democracy for Indonesia" from May 17-24.
Organiser of the Sydney actions Paul Benedek told Green Left Weekly, "It is important that activists here campaign in solidarity with the democracy activists in Indonesia against the Suharto dictatorship.
"In the lead-up to the Indonesian elections, thousands of students, workers and the urban poor took to the streets in the largest and most militant demonstrations in 30 years. Yet the silence from the Australian government was deafening. It won't comment on the human rights atrocities there and in East Timor because it might jeopardise the relationship with Suharto."
Across Australia, students from campus and high schools attended film showings of There is only one word — Resist! on the Indonesian democracy movement; public meetings on the political situation in Indonesia were held in all major cities; pickets were held outside the Indonesia consulates in Sydney and in Melbourne; and on the international day of solidarity, May 24, people gathered in city centres to hear speakers from ASIET (Action and Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor), Fretilin (East Timorese resistance group) and RNJT (National Timorese Youth Resistance).
The main demands were: End Australian support for Suharto; End all military ties; Let the refugees stay; Free all the political prisoners; and Cancel the Timor Gap treaty.
Highlights of the week included a rally in Melbourne on May 24 attended by 250 people, the majority of them East Timorese. In Lismore, 50 people attended the showing of Resist. A showing of the film at North Sydney Girls High attracted around 50 people.
In Sydney, a spontaneous picket outside the Indonesian consulate on May 23 protested against the undemocratic elections in Indonesia and the complicity of the Australian government. An effigy of Suharto was burnt and activists chained themselves to the gates of the consulate. Naldo Rai, an East Timorese activist, told the crowd about the role of the Indonesian government in East Timor. In Adelaide, the action was attended by some 65 people, including members of the Sikh community.
During the week Resistance also launched a national student sanctuary network — an extension of the existing sanctuary network of around 7000 people who are willing to supply money, food and/or accommodation to East Timorese refugees should they be threatened with deportation.
Resistance has now begun organising an Indonesia/East Timor speaking tour to all major university campuses and cities in Australia in September. Rai will be speaking, as well as Edwin Gozal, a leader of the People's Democratic Party in Indonesia.