Australian Timor hypocrisy condemned
CANBERRA — Harold Moucho of Fretilin, speaking at a Resistance club forum, accused the PM and foreign minister of hypocrisy with their claims that the East Timorese refugees are Portuguese not Indonesian citizens, and therefore should not have refugee status. Moucho pointed out that the same government had argued differently when Portugal attempted to have Australia's theft of Timorese oil and gas declared illegal in the International Court of Justice. He said that recent clashes in East Timor between the Indonesian occupation forces and pro-independence youth was not generated by ethnic or religious confrontations, but was a continuation the struggle for East Timor's independence.
Cuban representative speaks out
BRISBANE — The latest plans by US President Clinton to simultaneously tighten the blockade of Cuba while opening up media contacts are "a virtual declaration of war" by the US against Cuba, Cuban consul-general Marcelino Fajardo told a Cuba Solidarity Night at the Resistance Centre on October 14. Fajardo also addressed a special Jose Marti centenary celebration at the University of Queensland, sponsored by the UQ Department of Romance Languages and the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society. At a public meeting on October 10, Luis Galvez, a director of the Cuban sugar research institute and a member of the central committee of the Cuban Communist Party called for the campaign against the illegal US blockade of Cuba to be stepped up.
International day of action on Cuba
SYDNEY — Fifty people took part in a march and rally at Sydney Town Hall on October 13 to protest the continuation of the US blockade against Cuba. The action was part of an international solidarity day with Cuba. Speakers from the Australia Cuba Friendship Society, and Committees in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean addressed the rally. A member of the South African Communist Party said that the South African government had recently decided to open trade relations with Cuba.
East Timor protest
PERTH — On October 16 a group of Resistance and Aksi activists protested against the Indonesian military's increased repression of the East Timorese. Resistance and Aksi activist, Rebekah Dornan, emphasised the need for the public to keep demanding that the Australian government break its military ties with the Suharto regime.
High school action against nukes
WOLLONGONG — On October 20, high school students from Wollongong High sold black arm bands and launched
Student Underground, a secondary student newsletter initiated by Resistance, as part of a high school national week of action. Wollongong High student and Resistance member Sarah Gadd said that students liked
Student Underground as it covered a range of issues including nuclear testing and the independence struggle in East Timor. Albion Park High has also organised a day in black and Illawarra Grammar will be launching
Student Underground.
Women to reclaim the night
BRISBANE — Two hundred women were entertained by Dawn Daylight, Sister Web and a women's circus from Lismore which performed some death-defying feats on the trapeze, complete with body contortions, fire-breathing and theatre at a fund raising event for Reclaim the Night on October 7. The Reclaim the Night actions are being organised in many regional centres including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Logan, Rockhampton and Cairns. In country Victoria, rallies will be held in Geelong, Shepparton, Bendigo, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Colac.