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OPM denies responsibility for Freeport attack

BY KATHY FAIRFAX SYDNEY — Rex Rumakiek, a long-standing OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdeka) representative in Australia, denied that the West Papua independence group was involved in the August 31 attack on the giant US-owned Freeport gold and

Meeting supports 'Cuba Five'

BY LYNDA HANSEN BRISBANE — Thirty people attended a public meeting on September 12 to mark the fourth year since five Cubans were arrested in Miami and convicted in June 2001 for espionage. They had been involved in monitoring right-wing

INDONESIA: Beginning of end for Megawati?

BY MAX LANE JAKARTA — Indonesian police used tear gas and water cannons to attempt to subdue a large demonstration outside the parliament of the Jakarta special province on September 11. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered to

The Great Pretender

Oh yes! I'm the Great Pretender!Pretending I'm for human rights.My badge, you see, is from Amnesty,But my heart says, "Australia is for the whites!" Oh yes! I'm the Great Pretender!I claim to protect girls and boys,But look that's not my style: I

Bush ultimatum brings war closer

BY NORM DIXON US President George Bush delivered his much-anticipated ultimatum to the United Nations on September 12: enforce all Security Council resolutions passed against Iraq since 1990 or a massive US attack on Iraq will be "unavoidable".

Commission attacks NSW CFMEU

BY SAM WAINWRIGHT SYDNEY — The Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry, although based in Melbourne, has also been holding sessions in other cities, including Sydney. The most recent Sydney session finished on August

Residents stop mobile phone tower

BY JULIE ALBERDI& JILL WESTAWAY MELBOURNE — On September 8, residents of Heidelberg Heights won their campaign against the erection of a mobile phone tower on their local church. They had been advised in mid-August by the Rosanna Baptist

Activists to challenge for UWA guild positions

BY EMMA CLANCY PERTH — "We want to see more events such as the 200-strong student general meeting held on September 3, which debated issues such as refugees, the looming war on Iraq and Palestine", Fred Fuentes told Green Left Weekly. Fuentes,

Pampas workers strike for pay rise

BY PAUL MILLER MELBOURNE — Workers employed at the Pampas factory in West Footscray have been on strike since September 4, after negotiations about wages and conditions broke down. It is the first strike at the plant in 20 years. The

Anti-WTO coalition turns down anti-war demand

BY NICK EVERETT SYDNEY — The coalition organising a mass unity rally protesting against the World Trade Organisation "mini-ministerial" meeting on November 14 decided not to have opposition to an impending war on Iraq as a main demand of the

Socialist Alliance approaches Victorian registration

BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS MELBOURNE — On September 13, the Victorian Electoral Commission sent letters to all 764 Socialist Alliance members in Victoria. The letters ask one simple question — "Are you an Australian citizen 18 years or over and

AMWU fights it out in court

BY SUE BULL MELBOURNE — The Victorian office of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union remains in limbo, awaiting a resolution to the dispute between the AMWU's national office and elected Victorian officials. By September 14, most