Indonesia, East Timor public meeting
By Janet Parker
SYDNEY — "How long can Suharto Survive?" was the theme of a public meeting held by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) on June 19. An audience of 50 people heard speakers and viewed the documentary on the Indonesian political underground, There is only one word — Resist!.
Amnesty International representative Gina Krohn pointed to the fraudulent nature of the elections — the undemocratic electoral laws and the beatings, intimidation and repression that have marked the election period.
Amnesty has adopted as "prisoners of conscience" a number of the leaders of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) jailed for "subversion".
Nico Warouw, overseas representative of the PRD, traced the progress of the PRD's campaign for a boycott of the election and, now, for a rejection of the election result.
Warouw reported that the PRD will continue its efforts to build an alliance of all forces opposed to the Suharto regime. There are many issues, Warouw said, which such an alliance would need to take up, including Indonesia's annexation of East Timor, the freeing of the political prisoners and the presidential election due in March.
The Indonesian people will not be silenced, Warouw said. The increased repression of the past few months has given renewed impetus to the struggle for democracy.
East Timorese activist and writer Naldo Rai reported that since the May 29 election, 250 people had been arrested and detained by Dili police. The whereabouts of another 200 are still unknown.
Many others were shot dead simply because they held election boycott actions. Eight youths were shot in Los Palos, 15 in Bacau, and in Ermera and Hatulia, as many as 25 people were killed.
ASIET activist Francesca Davidson appealed for support for solidarity campaigns with Indonesia and East Timor. In particular, she noted the renewed campaign to demand the release of the political prisoners, efforts to win the support of Australian unions for the independent trade unions in Indonesia and the campaign to prevent the Australian government from deporting 1300 East Timorese refugees.
People were urged to attend the ASIET national conference, to be held in Sydney August 23-24. For more details of campaigns call ASIET on (02) 9690 1032.