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Indonesian peasants form people's councils

Indonesian peasants form people's councils By Jody Betzien and Ruth Ratcliffe JAKARTA — Peasants and rural workers, who make up around 60% of Indonesia's population, are potentially a significant force in the nation's democracy movement. Since

Forest Cycle

HOBART — During six weeks on the road to raise awareness about forest preservation, the Forest Cycle has run information stalls, talked to schools, lobbied politicians and held public meetings and music evenings. In the last week of their

Write on: letters to the editor

Human rights in US I have just read what could well be described as one of the most important books of the year: United States of America: Rights for All, published by Amnesty International, 153 absorbing pages, just nine months

Student left unites

By Kate Carr After discussions at the four major student conferences this year, a new student group, the National Broad Left (NBL), was established in Melbourne on July 21. The group will initiate national campaigns, intervene in student unions and

Dhyta Caturani: 'Nothing has changed' in Indonesia

Dhyta Caturani: 'Nothing has changed' JAKARTA — People's Democratic Party (PRD) leader DHYTA CATURANI was seriously injured by a plastic bullet shot into her back at point blank range by police at a July 1 protest outside the electoral commission

Stolen generation test cases reopen

DARWIN — On August 10, the Cubillo and Gunner v Commonwealth trial reopens in the Federal Court. The cases are an attempt to show that the earlier government policy of removal of Aboriginal children from their families was racist and an attempt to

Plutonium death ships heading for Japan

By Jim Green A shipment of mixed plutonium/uranium oxide (MOX) nuclear reactor fuel from Europe to Japan poses dangerous weapons proliferation, environmental and public health risks. There have been several shipments of high-level radioactive

AMWU makes good start on protecting workers' entitlements

By Jonathan Singer The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has announced it will establish an industry-wide trust fund to pay workers' sick leave, annual leave, long service leave, severance pay and other accruable entitlements. The AMWU is also

Mexico students continue strike

By Paul Jenkins MEXICO CITY — More than 80,000 striking students marched on July 26 through central Mexico City to celebrate 100 days of their strike against the imposition of student fees. The students were joined by contingents of electricity

A struggle of heroism and valour

A struggle of heroism and valour They Spoke Out Pretty GoodBy Elaine DarlingJanoan Media Exchange, 281ppSend $26 to Elaine Darling4 Warattah Court, Wurtulla Qld 4575 Review by Bob Brown The title of Elaine Darling's book was taken from May

Cuba night in Brisbane

BRISBANE — The Committee in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean's annual fiesta was held at the Ukrainian Hall on July 24. More than 100 supporters attended, and $600 was raised for a water tank project in El Salvador. Latin American

Stop Peter Reith, union basher

By Jonathan Singer After Patrick Stevedores sacked its work force (all members of the Maritime Union of Australia — MUA) in April 1998 to try to force the union out and cut jobs, Australian workers began industrial action that was not ordinary.