BY ANGELA LUVERA & JON LAND
As political repression has increased in Indonesia, Aceh and West Papua, pro-democracy activists in Australia have organised a series of solidarity actions. These protests have condemned the increase in repression by the military and their militia gangs across Indonesia, especially in the provinces of Aceh and West Papua.
In the week starting July 23, the Indonesian military forced Abdurrahman Wahid out of the presidency, the Supreme Court judge who sentenced Suharto's son Tommy to jail was shot dead and pro-democracy hunger strikers camped in a tent outside the Lampung police station were firebombed.
Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor has started a "Free the Political Prisoners" campaign in support of the activists being held in Indonesia's jails. ASIET has also called for a national day of protest on August 16 around the theme "Their struggle is our struggle! Globalise solidarity!". The socialist youth organisation Resistance is organising support for the action.
The Indonesian hunger strikers were demanding the release of political prisoners. There are now more political prisoners in Indonesia than there were in the final year of the dictator Suharto's rule.
On July 21 ASIET and the Australia Aceh Association organised an emergency demonstration outside the Sydney Australian Defence Force Recruitment Centre, to draw immediate attention to the crackdown in Aceh, and build public solidarity with the political prisoners.
Then on July 28, 20 activists braved storm-force winds to protest outside the Indonesian consulate against the military-backed Megawati Sukarnoputri government.
Eko from the solidarity organisation Warung Nusantara said the Indonesiian military was now even harassing religious leaders in East Java, while Pip Hinman from ASIET pointed to the judge's murder as evidence that the military was increasingly confident under the new regime.
Mohammad Dahlan from the Australia-Aceh Association said the repression in Aceh was worsening. The protesters agreed that the solidarity movement in Australia had to unite to pressure the Howard government to condemn human rights abuses and support the trial of Golkar and military figures who have, so far, been let off scott free.
On July 27 in Melbourne, Kylie Moon reports, Resistance co-ordinated a 24-hour solidarity hunger strike. Hunger strikers and supporters gathered outside Garuda Airlines in the afternoon, before marching down to Flinders Street station. They collected petition signatures calling on the Australian government to demand the release of all Indonesian political prisoners. Melbourne Resistance organiser Fred Fuentes asked all those present to get involved in actively defending democracy for Indonesia.
Chris Latham reports from Perth that, despite persistent rain, a committed band of protesters turned out into Perth's main shopping district to vent their outrage on July 27. Passing Friday shoppers were confronted by a pig-faced soldier representing the Indonesian military attacking the masses. The street theatre, organised by ASIET, went on to detail the story of the emergence and legitimisation of the Indonesian military as a repressive force.
This was concluded by the reading of a poem written by Wiji Thukul, "There is only one word: Resist!". Thukul, a member of the People's Democratic Party, disappeared during the 1998 military crackdown.
ASIET also held an emergency action in Darwin on July 29.
The August 16 actions will build support for the democracy struggle in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, as well as Aceh's struggle against Indonesian military repression.
The proposed day of action was endorsed at the Students and Sustainability Conference held in early July in Newcastle. Conference participants vowed to raise awareness about those in the Third World struggling against government-colluded corporate tyranny.
The No Nike Campaign in Melbourne, National Union of Students national education officer Kate Davison and Socialist Worker have also endorsed it.
Plans for the August 16 actions are being finalised. In Melbourne, activists intend to shut down the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade building for the day. The protest will begin outside the state library, march through the city via the Nike super store, and onto the DFAT building.
In Sydney, protesters will blockade the Australian Defence Force Recruiting Centre, accompanied by political street theatre. For information about other actions near you, phone your local Resistance Centre. For more information on the political prisoners campaign, contact ASIET.