News

Union support for East TimorDARWIN — The Northern Territory's peak labour body last week moved to pressure the Indonesian and Australian governments to act in support of East Timorese independence. The Northern Territory

MELBOURNE — A costly "review" of the 1987 master plan for Royal Park in Melbourne's inner north has been used to legitimise the construction there of a corporate hockey, gridiron and netball stadium, and associated administrative

On May 21 last year, Indonesian dictator Suharto was forced to resign. The military's killing of four students at the University of Trisakti on May 12 triggered massive protests and riots in Jakarta on May 13-14, which culminated

Although the Indonesian regime has freed some political prisoners since the fall of Suharto, more than 20 key political prisoners remain in jail. Eight are members of the People's Democratic Party (PRD). PRD chairperson Budiman Sujatmiko, Dita Sari,

'Commercial use' possible for navy wharfThe Australian Greens fear a proposed naval ammunitions wharf on the far south coast of NSW may also be used to export logs for woodchipping. The $57 million wharf and jetty and an

Capitalism is full of contradictions. A bus trip through Jakarta is a stark reminder of this fact. Amidst the sprawling slums of workers and urban poor, luxury motels and military-owned mansions act as obscene reminders of the

The fact that the current goods and services tax (GST) debate is posed as a choice between increasing compensation or exempting food demonstrates that all parties to the debate already know that the GST is intrinsically unfair. For

While the people of East Timor contemplate the prospect of voting in August on whether to reject or accept the Indonesian government's offer of "autonomy", they are also preparing for an increase in attacks from the pro-integration

ANU restructuring' CANBERRA — On April 12 the Australian National University council announced a review of the structure and programs of all faculties in order to reduce an alleged 15% deficit in funding. The review will be carried out by a

An outstanding documentary about the Indonesian political underground, Indonesia in Revolt: Democracy or Death, had its Sydney premier screening at the Globe Cinema on April 23 to an audience of 380 people. The

EELast July and August, high school students in Australia gained notoriety when 25,000 of them walked out of school against racism. In Indonesia, high school students are also organising. Alongside workers, peasants and the urban

John Howard and Alexander Downer would have us believe that the Australian government has a deep concern for human rights in Indonesia and East Timor. In reality, the Liberal government and the previous Labor government have a record of supporting