Latin American Action launched
BRISBANE — Australian Aid for El Salvador organised a public meeting on April 12 to acknowledge the success of the FMLN in the March 16 general election in El Salvador and to launch a new organisation. Speakers Rafael Pacheco, Marco Ramirez and Ricardo Martinez urged broad support for the FMLN leading up the 1999 presidential elections.
The new group, Latin American Action, will address the recent racist attacks on two Latin American school children at Salisbury railway station. Pacheco told Green Left Weekly: "Many issues affect Latin American people — cuts to immigration, racism and lack of access to decent jobs. Latin Americans need a united voice, a political group to organise our demands. This is the role of Latin American Action."
Lismore campus safety campaign
LISMORE — About 150 students gathered at Southern Cross University on April 15 to discuss safety on campus. So far this year there has been one rape and one serious assault reported, but the university administration is refusing to inform students or to take any measures to create a safer environment.
Bronwyn Myers from the Rape Crisis Centre spoke on the needs of survivors and the importance of preventive measures. A list of demands called on the administration to publicise statistics on attacks on campus, to install better lighting at bus stops and car parks and to increase the number of after hours shuttle buses.
BHP confronted
MELBOURNE — Thirty activists attended a rally organised by University Students for East Timor on April 15, occupying the foyer of BHP to protest against the announcement on April 3 that BHP and its partners were ready to proceed with the first stage of extracting gas from the Timor Gap. Protesters presented BHP with an eviction notice, ordering it to quit the Timor Gap within 28 days or face legal, economic and political sanctions.
Anti-uranium rally
LISMORE — "No to the uranium industry" will be the theme of a rally on the 11th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Saturday, April 26, 11am, at Spinks Park, Molesworth St, Lismore. For more information, phone Kerri 213 123 or Sabina 897 346.
Aboriginal youth sues police
BRISBANE — An Aboriginal youth is suing police over excessive violence used during his arrest in a "Rodney King-style" bashing incident in the Ipswich Mall on March 22. Sacha Blake is claiming $30,000 damages in the Brisbane District Court.
The incident was captured by council security cameras, and is now the subject of investigations by the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) and the US Defence Department. The claim states that Blake was tackled to the ground and beaten by four police officers and a US military police officer.