20 years of East Timor's occupation

By Kerryn Williams There were rallies in all major cities on December 7 or 8 to mark the 20th anniversary of Indonesia's occupation of East Timor. East Timorese activists began an all-day protest in Canberra on December 7 at 4am with a silent, candlelight vigil outside the Indonesian embassy. The silence was broken at 4.45am with a song to mark the time at which Indonesian troops launched their invasion. At midday a 100-strong rally took place at Parliament House, from which the protesters marched back to the Indonesian embassy. Zacarias da Costa, from the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT), pointed out that the United Nations General Assembly regularly condemns the Indonesian occupation, and does not recognise Indonesian sovereignty over East Timor. Harold Moucho, coordinator of Fretilin NSW, emphasised the moral debt owed to East Timor by Australia, after more than 40,000 East Timorese were killed in World War II protecting Australian soldiers. Ben Reid reports from Melbourne that 200 people protested at the Indonesian consulate on December 8. Three Indonesian flags were burnt and speakers included Abel Guterres of CNRM. Later, a city rally, organised by Resistance, attracted 100 people. An Indonesian military flag was burnt while Gareth Evans and General Suharto were "tried" and found guilty by the crowd for the genocide in East Timor. Bill Mason reports from Brisbane that protesters rallied outside Air Garuda offices on December 7 before marching to the Queen Street Mall to join a silent vigil, sponsored by the Timorese community. About 100 people took part in the action which was also sponsored by Resistance, Aksi and the Catholic Workers. In Adelaide, around 50 people rallied on December 7 at Parliament House. The action was organised by the Campaign for an Independent East Timor and was addressed by Labor MP Peter Duncan, Chris Pine from the Liberal Party, Sandra Kank from the Australian Democrats and Andy Alcock from CIET. In Newcastle, 35 people gathered in Civic Park on December 7 in a candlelight vigil around the theme "Australia remembers?". The action linked the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II (which we are urged to remember) with the 20th anniversary of East Timor's invasion (which Australian politicians want us to forget). From Darwin, Sally Mitchell reports that 35 demonstrators picketed the Indonesian Consulate on December 7. An effigy of President Suharto was hanged and 20 Indonesian military flags were burnt. Strong police presence and two fire engines did not stop the flag burning. Earlier in the morning a re-enactment of the shooting of Australian journalist Roger East by Indonesian troops in 1975 was staged by activist Rob Wesley Smith and young Timorese.