By "Peaceful Protester"
DARWIN — About 20 East Timorese and Australian protesters rallied in front of the Indonesian Consulate on May 24. Crosses with the names of those murdered were leaned against the front fence of the consulate. We stood in a line, holding banners, wearing Xanana T-shirts, chanting: "Free East Timor! Free East Timor Now!"
The building was dark and silent. The gate was locked. Someone should speak to the consul-general, I thought. I climbed the fence (with difficulty) and walked into the building. I asked the office man if I could speak to the consul-general.
"No, he's not in", he said. "Who can I speak to, then?" "Speak to me", he said. So I asked why the Indonesian government had threatened the Philippines with "retaliation" if they held the human rights conference on East Timor in Manila as planned.
I heard the chants of the others outside. "Free Xanana! Free East Timor Now!" I may as well leave, I thought. I went outside.
The fence was over seven feet high: how would I get out? Two huge policeman ordered: "Get over the fence, now!" "I can't", I said. "It was hard enough climbing it once. I'll just zip back inside and ask someone to unlock the gate for me."
I walked back into the consulate building. Just as I was asking the office man to let me out the policemen materialised. Just a moment, they said; we'll have to see if these people want to press charges. You are trespassing.
A policeman stayed with me while the other one arranged things with the Indonesian officials. I parted the blinds; through the windows I could see the line of protesters on the other side of the fence, and the flash of a full length mirror (take a look at yourself, Indonesia!). There were other flashes, camera flashes, as an employee took several photos of my face.
I was under arrest, I was informed by a policeman. I walked behind him, out into the glaring Darwin sun. Someone opened the gate and I found myself back on Australian soil — but in deep shit, according to the policemen.
I have already asked why the Indonesian government would want a conference on human rights in East Timor cancelled. I have another question: how is it that when I trespass on Indonesian property I am arrested and charged, whilst the Indonesian government which has been trespassing on East Timor's soil since 1975 — and illegality of this occupation is recognised internationally — is patted on the back by the Australian government?
Indonesia's disregard for human rights such as freedom of speech and its genocide of the Timorese people is condoned by Gareth Evans and Paul Keating and anyone else who refuses to admit the truth.
The more people who help the world see what is really happening in Indonesia and East Timor, the sooner my Timorese friends can go back to their country and their relations be freed from prison. Please join a local solidarity group for East Timor, form your own Student Supporters for East Timor group as my friends have done at the local university, or write to: East Timor Relief Association, GPO Box 38956, Winnellie NT 0811.