Timorese demonstrate against Liquica massacre
By Vannessa Hearman
MELBOURNE — On the steps of the Victorian Parliament House on April 10, around 120 people demonstrated against the massacre in Liquica, East Timor. The protest was organised by solidarity groups Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET), Australia East Timor Association (AETA), University Students for East Timor (USET) and Timorese organisations Fretilin and the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT).
Joaquim Santos of Fretilin said: "We are sick and tired of the empty promises of the Australian government on this issue. They should pressure the Indonesian government to disarm the paramilitaries and to withdraw from East Timor."
Joe Davis from a solidarity group in New Zealand expressed disappointment with the stance of the New Zealand government on East Timor.
The protest was also addressed by Lansell Taudevin, formerly an aid worker in East Timor, who spoke of killings by paramilitaries in many districts of East Timor.
An ASIET speaker urged protesters to continue protest actions and spoke of the Indonesian People's Democratic Party's courage in declaring that elections should not take place in East Timor because it is not a part of Indonesia.
Earlier, on April 7, forty people occupied the Department of Foreign Affairs building in protest against the massacre in Liquica.