By Wendy Robertson
Hundreds of people rallied in capital cities on October 14-15 to protest against Australian government and business complicity in the 19-year Indonesian occupation of East Timor.
Activists highlighted the fact that Australian-based companies are taking advantage of the Timor Gap Treaty, which contravenes several United Nations resolutions and is likely to be ruled in breach of international law by the International Court or Justice.
The rallies aimed to show the hypocrisy of the Australian government's "quiet diplomacy" approach to human rights in East Timor while it continues to increase economic and military ties with the Indonesian government and military.
The national day of action was organised by Resistance and was sponsored nationally by UDT (Union of Democratic Timorese) Fretilin Youth (Revolutionary Front for Independent East Timor) and Aksi (Indonesia Solidarity Action) as well as a range of local solidarity and East Timorese community groups.
In Sydney, Sujatha Fernandes and Trina Markandu report, around 250 people gathered at Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park and marched through the city to Circular Quay. People carried colourful UDT and Fretilin flags, drums beating and whistles blowing. Passers-by were stopped in their tracks by the lively procession chanting "Australia out of the Timor Gap, Free East Timor Now!" and "ALP, BHP, Out of the Timor Sea!"
At First Fleet Park there were speakers from a broad range of groups, and Peter Hicks singing East Timor liberation songs. Speakers referred to the importance of protests like the National Day of Action in furthering the struggle for Timorese independence.
Brian Da-Luz from UDT and Harold Mucho from Fretilin spoke about the resistance movement in Timor, which has not given up the struggle. Calling for people in Australia to unite with the Timorese, Harold Mucho said, "United we will rock the foundations of our enemy and obtain our liberation".
Aksi speaker Nick Fredman and Max Lane from the Democratic Socialist Party commented on the Indonesian government's suppression of democratic movements in its own country, and they spoke of the importance of Australians supporting movements for democracy and independence in Indonesia and East Timor.
Peter Baird from Amnesty International condemned the rhetoric that has been coming from the government about political freedoms being less important in Asian countries. There was also a speaker from the Australia East Timor Association (AETA).
In Melbourne, 400 people mobilised at the General Post Office. Large numbers of high school and university students and East Timorese participated.
Rachel Evans introduced the day, highlighting the need for ongoing actions to increase pressure on our government. She was followed by Raul Mousace, representative for the East Timorese resistance, who attacked the hollow motion passed at the ALP National Conference on military relations with Indonesia. He also condemned the government's hopes of "zillions" of dollars to be made from drilling for oil in the Timor Gap.
Bernardo Duarte from the East Timorese Youth Movement said that the Australian government was getting rich on gas and oil reserves while the Indonesian repression increases. Jo Brown spoke for Resistance.
The rally then marched to BHP Petroleum, where black coffins were placed. John Sinnott from AETA spoke of BHP profiting from oil while the Timorese were being sacrificed. Carolyn Cartwright from Aksi spoke of the developing movement for democracy in Indonesia.
Samuel Solomon reports from Adelaide that 300 enthusiastic demonstrators demanded an end to Indonesia's bloody occupation of East Timor and the Australian government's support of it.
Speakers from Campaign for an Independent East Timor (CIET), Aksi and Resistance described the brutal repression of East Timorese and called for the end of all military ties with Indonesia. Demanding an end to exploration and licensing of oil drilling in the Timor Gap, and the inclusion of genuine representatives of the East Timorese in any negotiations, the rally was warmly thanked by East Timorese CIET member David Bareto.
Andy Alcock from CIET condemned the Australian government's lack of opposition to the occupation. Andrew Hall from Aksi noted the attempts by the progressive movement in Indonesia to democratise their country and called for Australian unions and community groups to support this as a way of easing the pressure on the East Timorese.
Penny Farrow of Resistance outlined the role of Australian big business — especially Santos, BHP and Petroz — in perpetuating the position of the Australian government.
Following street theatre, the rally marched from Santos through the mall. Passers-by joined the march (including two East Timor activists from Alice Springs who heard the noise and came running), and many others were alerted to the situation in East Timor.
In Newcastle, 60 people gathered at Beaumont St Mall, opposite BHP, for a spirited rally attended by a broad range of activists. It was addressed by John Dos Santos, a local East Timorese exile, and Katherine Fry from Resistance. The rally chanted "No Blood for Oil!" and "Free East Timor". The day was also sponsored by Asian International Network.
Tom Kelly reports that in Darwin a bus-load of activists visited in turn the offices of Santos, BHP Petroleum and the National Australia Bank. BHP Petroleum and Santos use Darwin as a supply base for their activities in the Timor Sea, and the National Australia Bank has significant investments in these operations.
The head of operations of Santos (NT), Alex Wood, expressed concern over the deaths and torture in East Timor but claimed that he was unable to discuss matters of policy. Representatives of the National Australia Bank were unwilling to meet a delegation to discuss the issue. The protest contingent responded by conducting lively pickets and speak-outs outside two of the bank's Darwin offices.
Tim Larkin, head of operations for BHP, Darwin, refused a delegation access beyond the car park. Jose Gusmao, representative of the National Council for Maubere Resistance (CNRM) for South-East Asia, pointed out to Larkin that 50,000 East Timorese gave their lives fighting alongside Australian troops in World War II, and that since 1975 hundreds of thousands of Timorese have been killed by Indonesian troops (including three of Gusmao's own children), and Australia maintains a culpable silence.
Gusmao warned Larkin that the East Timorese would not forget this shoddy treatment when BHP is forced to deal with the East Timorese, the rightful owners of the Timor Gap oil reserves.
In Perth, 100 people joined the demonstration. Speakers included Francisco Soares from Fretilin, Maria Modera from UDT, Corinne Glen and Rjurik Davidson from Resistance.
Two hundred people marched from King George Square in Brisbane to picket Petroz and then to the Queen Street Mall for a speak-out. Speakers included Nick Everett from Aksi, Phillipa Stanford from Resistance, Lurna Cort-Real from the East Timorese community and Lee Knightingale from the Democrats. The rally signed and presented a list of demands on a postcard to Petroz and placed a wreath of flowers outside the Petroz offices.
All of the activities highlighted the need to build ongoing mobilisations for East Timorese independence. Coming up are November 12 Dili massacre memorial activities.