Five days of solidarity
Activists throughout Australia held actions in solidarity with the movements
for democracy in Indonesia and freedom in East Timor. The marches, rallies,
speak-outs and forums were part of five days of solidarity
-
-
Ireland Congratulations to Dave Riley and Chris Slee for being brave enough to have a go at interpreting the Northern Ireland peace deal. It has given me the courage to also have a go. I am sympathetic to the agreement. If I was in Ireland I
-
BRISBANE — The growth of the racist One Nation party, behind figurehead MP Pauline Hanson, is a result of the capitalist economic crisis, which has pitched workers into unemployment and poverty, ruined small businesses and driven
-
Sorry Day in CanberraCANBERRA — A variety of events were held here in the days leading up to national Sorry Day on May 26. The biggest was the "Coming Together" event at Commonwealth Park on May 24, to honour the "stolen
-
Looking Out: The harvest"That time we all heard it, cool and clear, cutting across the hot grip of the day.That major Voice. That adult Voice. forgoing Rolling River, forgoing tearful tale of bale and barge and other
-
SYDNEY — Doctors, nurses and counsellors in the NSW public health system have been ordered by NSW Health to report people under the age of 16 who admit they are having sex. Health workers will be compelled to notify the
-
Bias and the media The recent ranting of the minister for communication, Senator Alston, alleging biased ABC reporting of the waterside dispute is very revealing. His allegation is as false and hypocritical as his Liberal colleagues' claim that the
-
Red and greenThe warning signals feature on the news each night: fires in Indonesia, chunks of the Antarctic ice sheet breaking off, global soil erosion of 74 billion tonnes per year, the El Niño event and climate
-
ATO offers revised agreementFollowing the rejection of a proposed agreement in a staff vote, the Australian Taxation Office management has offered a few concessions in an attempt to get a revised agreement approved. At first,
-
The time has come for the Coalition government to withdraw all support for the corrupt New Order regime in Indonesia. Suharto may have gone, but the foundations of the Suharto dictatorship remain — foundations like the constitutional right of the
-
A costly compromise On May 21, the Western Australian parliament passed a bill to change that state's abortion laws. The bill, which was initially intended to remove all references to abortion from the criminal code, was, through numerous
-
Rally against One Nation plannedBRISBANE — A rally will be held at Roma Street Forum on June 7 at 11am to call on voters in the May 13 state election to put One Nation last. The rally was called from a meeting on May 29
-
On May 1, the structure of employment services was transformed as provision was opened up to private companies. The Howard government claims that this partial privatisation will result in better services because the unemployed
-
Indonesia: free all political prisoners!JAKARTA — The February to May student uprising and the wave of riots in Jakarta on May 14-15 which forced the resignation of President Suharto began a process that stands on the verge of
-
To whom it may concern I'm not one prone to whingeing. I take what the world dishes out on the chin because that's the kind of person I am: forthright, earnest, straight as a die. However — and I say this only because I think I've earned
-
The French revolt of May-June 1968 began in December 1967 with a strike in eight Paris high schools to support a demonstration against government cuts in social security. This was followed by another high school walkout in January
-
BRISBANE — The Democratic Socialists have issued a challenge to the Labor Party and the Coalition to get serious about Pauline Hanson in the Queensland election campaign. "Both ALP leader Peter Beattie and National Party
-
Andi Arief was kidnapped by the Indonesian military from his brother's house in Lampung, Sumatra on March 28. For four weeks he was "disappeared". The military emphatically denied having detained him, despite eyewitness reports to
-
The Victorian government made an appalling decision in supporting CSR's proposal for a prescribed waste landfill (toxic dump) at Werribee. Corporate profits have been put ahead of community rights and concerns. Since planning
-
Despite PM John Howard's promise (obviously not a "core" promise) in 1995 that the Coalition would "never ever" introduce a goods and services tax, the Liberals, big business and economic "commentators" are clamouring for a GST. The
-
"When injustice becomes law resistance becomes duty." This is the theme of the 27th national conference of the socialist youth organisation Resistance, being held in Melbourne from July 11-13. "This theme really captures what
-
On the box Actively Radical TV — Sydney community television's progressive current affairs producers tackle the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Thursday, 10pm and Saturday, 7pm. Ph 9565 5522. Access
-
Even as the blockade at ERA's Jabiluka uranium mine site was broken up by the Tactical Response Group last week, the campaign to stop uranium mining in Kakadu was gathering support. That support is founded on a widespread
News
-
Court victory for East Timor protesters DARWIN — Two prominent members of Australians for a Free East Timor have had convictions for disorderly conduct overturned by the NT Supreme Court. Sally Anne Watson and Vaughan Williams were charged after
-
SCU students' victory over up-front feeLISMORE — On May 9, Southern Cross University (SCU) Council gave in to student pressure and dropped the newly introduced $18 up-front fee. The Education Action Group (EAG) had organised a
-
Hundreds march in support of Jabiluka blockadeIn response to the arrest of nine activists blockading the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine site by police on May 26, Sydney's Jabiluka Action Group (JAG) called an
-
International Students Solidarity Network launchedMELBOURNE — The launch of the International Students Solidarity Network took place at Swanbourne University on May 20. Speakers included Vannessa Hearman from Action In Solidarity
-
Victory against Rio TintoNEWCASTLE — Workers at Rio Tinto's Hunter Valley No. 1 coalmine have rejected management's Australian Workplace Agreement proposal in a secret ballot. The Construction, Mining, Forestry and Energy
-
By Yael GIPPSLAND — The Goolengook forest, situated in East Gippsland, north-east Victoria is threatened by unsustainable logging practices. The only government study of Goolengook forest, conducted in 1991, recommended that, to maintain
-
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission decided on May 26 that union-backed seniority provisions in coal industry awards were no longer allowable. The decision was made under the Workplace Relations Act's requirement that
-
Ramos Horta: support a referendum for East TimorOn May 25, 300 people gathered to hear Jose Ramos Horta speak at a meeting organised by the Amnesty club of the University of NSW. Horta described the invasion of East Timor
-
Rio Tinto under the microscopeNEWCASTLE — About 25 people attended a workshop on May 16 to discuss the activities of the mining company Rio Tinto. Speakers included Moses Havini from the Bougainville Interim Government;
-
Nuclear tests condemned CANBERRA — Forty people attended pickets on May 24 and May 30 outside the Indian and Pakistan embassies respectively. The protests were called by the Australian Greens. Senator Bob Brown and the ACT Greens' Kerry Tucker
-
Ordinary "They will become ordinary entrepreneurs, without privileges." — Probosutedjo, half-brother of Suharto, on the likely business future of members of the Indonesian ex-presidential family. Back to the day job "On the issue of NKK
-
Qld election and movement building LANA HALPIN spoke to GRAHAM MATHEWS, the Democratic Socialist candidate for Brisbane Central in the May 13 Queensland election, about the Democratic Socialists' campaign. Question: Why are the Democratic
-
Privatisation blackmailADELAIDE — In the May 28 state budget, the Liberal government has tied funding for South Australia's ailing education and health systems to the privatisation of the electricity utility, ETSA. Treasurer
-
Stop MAI public meetingBRISBANE — Around 300 people attended a public meeting here on May 27 to hear Reverend Tim Costello speak against the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). The Organisation for Economic
-
Teachers stop work in VictoriaMELBOURNE —Victorian Australian Education Union (AEU) members struck on May 27 as part of a campaign the AEU has been waging to win a certified agreement with the state government and to get the
-
Pro-choice vigil a successMELBOURNE — More than 100 people gathered on the steps of the State Library here on May 28, the International Day of Action for Reproductive Rights. The vigil was organised by the Pro-Choice Coalition.
-
MUA victory in Newcastle By Alison Dellitand Jane Beckmann After 45 days locked out, maritime workers employed by Patrick Stevedores returned to work on May 23. The workers have been sub-contracted to Newcastle Stevedores. The return to work was
-
SYDNEY — On May 26, the NSW police force's latest victim was killed outside his grandmother's house. The Coalition Opposing Police Shootings (COPS) has called on the NSW police commissioner to immediately adopt English-style, unarmed beat policing.
-
Speaking tour: Eyewitness report on Indonesia Following a visit to Indonesia, where he held discussions with activists in the student, worker and democracy movements, Max Lane will be speaking at public meetings in Adelaide (June 11), Sydney (June
-
ANU staff/student strike By Will Williams CANBERRA — More than 200 Australian National University staff and students braved the frosty 7.30am start for a strike and rally here on May 29. The action, the latest in a campaign to
-
Public works key to jobs, say socialistsBRISBANE — "A large-scale program of public works, including schools, child-care centres, public transport and leisure facilities, is the key to creating thousands of new jobs", the
Analysis
-
Editorial: Free East Timor! Free East Timor! The ALP foreign affairs spokesperson, Laurie Brereton, on May 24 attacked foreign minister Alexander Downer for his "mealy mouthed failure" to call for the release of East Timorese resistance leader
World
-
International news briefs Climate treaty under attack The Global Climate Coalition (GCC), a grouping of some of the biggest multinational corporations, is launching a new campaign to strip the Kyoto greenhouse gas accord of its scientific
-
On May 22, the Belfast agreement, which sets up a new power-sharing assembly in the Six Counties, won overwhelming endorsement from the people of Ireland. In the north, 71.1% backed the agreement, while in the south, constitutional
-
Military assault and riots in Solo By Terry A. Nelson In recent months, anyone travelling through Indonesia would unavoidably be drawn into the events that have come into the international spotlight news after a long struggle of the
-
Writing from the Greater Jakarta Police Station, ANDI ARIEF, a member of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) and chairperson of Indonesian Students Solidarity for Democracy (SMID), describes his abduction and interrogation by Indonesian security
-
On May 26, demonstrators marched to the Indonesian embassy in Port Moresby calling on the new Indonesian leader to grant the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya its independence. They presented a petition signed by pro-independence leaders Michael
-
This [northern] spring, just before Jakarta erupted in riots, more than a dozen activists from Indonesia's pro-democracy movement suddenly "disappeared" from the capital and outlying towns. Amid a public outcry, the Indonesian Armed
-
Pro-democracy forces won an impressive victory in Hong Kong's May 24 legislative council election, its first since the former British colony reintegrated with China almost a year ago. Beijing restricted the number of popularly elected
-
South Korean workers are planning to launch a second and bigger round of general strikes on June 10, despite the government's declaration that the May 27-28 strike by 120,000 workers was illegal and its threat on May 29 to charge 143
-
Last year, the board of regents of California's university system voted to end affirmative action to help minorities gain admission. It claimed that affirmative action discriminated against whites. The results have been
-
'We must not be deceived by Habibie's tricks' Following is a slightly abridged version of a statement issued by the banned PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY in Indonesia on developments in their country. It was translated for Green Left Weekly by
-
Indonesian soldiers continue to carry out brutal acts of torture, murder and arbitrary detention throughout East Timor. Many of the worst incidents have occurred in the town of Baucau and surrounding districts. The East Timor Human
-
LAHORE, Pakistan — Local body elections took place in Punjab province on May 20. They were one of the bloodiest elections in the history of Pakistan, with 40 people killed and hundreds injured during riots around Punjab. The
-
UPNG students boycott classesAngry University of Papua New Guinea students on May 22 launched a class boycott and a blockade of the Port Moresby campus in response to a proposed restructure of the university. Students claim the
-
With the removal of Suharto, the Indonesian democracy movement has achieved a huge victory, but it continues to struggle for real democracy. As part of promoting solidarity with the democracy movement, Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East
-
Compulsory military service will be declared if an amnesty fails to bring back about 15,000 army deserters, Anuruddha Ratwatte, Sri Lanka's deputy defence minister, announced in early May. The government is threatening to impose
-
'Zimbabwe's Suharto must go'Inspired by the fall of Indonesian dictator Suharto, thousands of student demonstrators on May 28 marched through the streets of the capital, Harare, to demand the resignation of Zimbabwe president
-
FSLN sends greetings to PRD The following resolution was passed by the FSLN's highest decision-making body. The motion was moved by Dorotea Wilson, who recently toured Australia. "The Second Congress of the FSLN, held in Managua, Nicaragua, on the
Culture
-
Capital Burning Indonesia burnswhile Suharto fiddles the books.East Timor burnswith greed for blood and oil.Forests burnand crony capital fans the flames.But the heathas gone undergroundand fuels the fireburning in the people.Now the peopleburn for
-
Maureen You ask me not to clench my fiststo hold my anger down.You ask me not to purse my lipsnor swear nor wear a frown.You tell me — let my anger gothat I should reconcile that it is me that I must knowto feel at one, and smile. It's not what
-
Pillaged Lives: Third World Debt and Global InstitutionsCD-RomSocial Justice Committee of MontrealSystem requirements: PC 486 or higher; Windows 3.1/95; 8mb RAM; VGA 256 coloursSend Can$25 to SJCM, 1857 de Maisonneuve O., Suite 320, Montreal, QC. H3H
-
Left on-line Indonesia's struggle for democracy — Follow developments in Indonesia and find out what you can do in solidarity at these sites: Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) has first-hand reports from the Indonesian
-
Highlights of 45th Sydney Film FestivalThe 45th Sydney Film Festival will begin on June 5 and continue until June 19. A highlight of this year's festival will be a feature selection of African cinema, including films made in
-
The good engineer After the BallBy David WilliamsonWith Judi Farr, Peter Carroll, Jacki Weaver and Garry McDonaldSydney Opera House Drama TheatreUntil June 6Australia's most successful man of the theatre has no sense of the
-
When the political becomes personal Diving for PearlsBy Katherine ThomsonDirected by Adam CookWith Deborah Kennedy, Danny Adcock, Steve Rodgers, Cornelia Frances and Sacha HorlerEnsemble Theatre, KirribilliUntil July 4. Review by Allen Myers
-
My Dog Tooth Tattoo (Dedicated to the UTS, Sydney, student bitten by an Alsatian dog during an early morning SWAT raid on a student occupation) I know that you love me,But it's not a nice thing to do,To leave on my armA dog tooth tattoo.I cowered
-
Frabjous DazeRelishIndependently releasedPhone Ant McKenna on 015 172 276 or e-mail <antm@lrvnet.org.au>. Review by Lynda Hansen A nine-track debut CD, Frabjous Daze is a collection of songs from Brisbane band Relish. Relish, formed in
-
Taking on the bovver boys Cleary, IndependentBy Phil ClearyHarperCollins, 1998. 298 pp, $19.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon Phil Cleary, a product of a Christian Brothers schooling, could have been expected to know all about human sin and divine