Dili massacre remembered

Ben Reid reports that 2000 East Timorese and their supporters gathered in Melbourne on November 12 as part of a nationwide series of actions to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Dili massacre. Shirley Shackleton, widow of journalist Greg Shackleton murdered by Indonesian troops in 1975, condemned the Australian government and the ALP at the rally. She reminded the audience that the so-called "great man" of Australia, Gough Whitlam, knowingly colluded with the Indonesian invasion. Democratic Socialist speaker Susan Price, referring to the policy adopted by the ALP national conference in 1994, told the rally that "the ALP's call for reconciliation between Indonesians and East Timorese is facile and hypocritical. The real issue is self-determination for East Timor. The ALP's policy on Timor puts oil before human lives. We need a foreign policy that puts people before profits." Abel Guterres, speaking on behalf of the East Timorese resistance, called on "all sectors of the Australian community to express their opposition to the federal government". During the rally, a flame was lit in remembrance of the victims of the massacre. East Timorese refugees, who led the march, carried it through city streets chanting, "Viva East Timor!" and "No Blood for Oil; Free East Timor Now!". In Bourke Street Mall, city traffic and trams were stopped as protesters held a "die-in". Outside the Garuda Airlines office, speakers from solidarity groups urged more people to become involved in actions for East Timor. Jo Brown from Aksi (Solidarity Action for East Timor and Indonesia) pointed to the growing movement of support in Indonesia. She pointed to the need to link the struggle for democracy in Indonesia with independence for East Timor. From Perth, Arun Pradhan reports that more than 600 people attended a commemorative march and rally on November 12. Organised by Friends of East Timor and the East Timorese community, the actions followed a Catholic mass at All Saints Church. Marchers wore black armbands and carried 274 crosses inscribed with the names and ages of the people killed at Dili. Before the rally "Speaking for the Dead" was performed by Curtin University's Hayman theatre. East Timorese representative and UDT member Domingos de Oliveira described the continued resistance against the occupation. He condemned the cowardice of both the Labor and Liberal parties and thanked the Australian people for their support, stressing that the fight was not against the Indonesian people but the regime. Indonesian dissident, Dr George Aditjondro, described the growing number of Indonesians, particularly young people, who were in solidarity with the East Timorese and called on Australians to boycott Bali. Tony Cooke from the Trades and Labour Council pointed to the importance of union support for the campaign. Thanking the people who helped to fight the WA government's second wave industrial legislation, Cooke encouraged them to also take on the campaign for self-determination in East Timor. Other speakers included UDT and Fretilin representatives and Father Frank Smith from the Redemptionist Church. Amber Copland from Friends of East Timor in Derby reports that 35 people gathered for a commemoration rally. Derby was the focus of controversy earlier this year as the location of detention camps for East Timorese refugees. The protesters also lit a torch symbolising freedom for East Timor. From Grafton, NSW, David Noonan reports that students at the Catherine McAuley College organised a demonstration on November 10 around the demands "Free East Timor, No more Dili massacres". Speakers from Resistance and Amnesty International addressed students and staff. The protesters collected over 150 names on "Free East Timor" petitions and "Timor Woman", written by Xanana Gusmao, was performed at the rally. Kerryn Williams reports from Canberra that 100 people rallied outside the Indonesian embassy on November 12. Speakers included Ines Almeida of the East Timor Relief Association, Jim Redden from Community Aid Abroad, Marina Carman from Resistance, Kerryn Williams from the Democratic Socialist Party, Bill Tully from Campaign for an Independent East Timor and Bishop Pat Power of the Catholic Church. Recently arrived East Timorese refugees attended the rally. All emphasised the Australian government's support for the Indonesian military and Power highlighted the ALP's continued disgraceful policy on East Timor from Whitlam to Keating. On November 13, Almeida addressed a forum organised by Community Aid Abroad and Campaign for an Independent East Timor. The 30 participants discussed various aspects of the struggle for freedom in East Timor including the role of women, the banning of aid organisations from setting up projects or documenting conditions in East Timor, and what can be done in Australia to support the campaign.