Protests condemn Indonesian regime's violence
By Liam Mitchell
SYDNEY — More than 40 protesters gathered outside Garuda Indonesia's office on July 2 in an emergency action to protest against the police attack on democracy movement protesters the previous day in Jakarta. The protest, called by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET), also condemned the Indonesian military's role in Indonesia and East Timor.
The speakers included Max Lane, national coordinator of ASIET, East Timorese activist Naldo Rai, Paul Benedek from the Democratic Socialist Party, National Union of Students education officer Nick Harrigan, Indonesian solidarity group WARTA's Eko Waluyo, Jefferson Lee from the Australia-East Timor Association, Erin Killion and Chris Latham from Resistance, and Sydney ASIET's Jenny Long.
Vannessa Hearman reports from Melbourne that an emergency protest was also organised there by ASIET and Resistance. Members of the two organisations, joined by East Timorese activists, occupied Garuda Indonesia's office in the centre of the city for almost an hour. A rally was organised by ASIET and Resistance to support the occupation.
Bronwyn Jennings, an ASIET activist who was part of the occupation, told the rally: "We are demanding that the Australian government condemn the actions of the Indonesian police at the pro-democracy rally and that it severs military ties with the Indonesian government".
Alex Tilman, an East Timorese activist and representative of Fretilin who was also inside Garuda, outlined the situation facing the East Timorese in the lead up to the August referendum on autonomy or independence.
In Brisbane on July 2, reports Graham Mathews, 30 protesters assembled in Edward Street outside the Australian Defence Force recruiting centre and Garuda Indonesia's office. Called by ASIET and Resistance, the protest demanded that the Australian government end all military ties with Indonesia.
Protest organiser Angela Luvera from Resistance told the crowd that it was fitting that the ADF has an office next to Garuda. "What is the ADF defending us against?", Luvera asked. "Its real role is the defence of imperialist interests in the region — particularly in Indonesia.
"Through its training of Indonesian soldiers, the Australian army is just as responsible for the attack on unarmed protesters in Jakarta on July 1 as are those who ordered the shootings."
Acting on "complaints" received, police attempted to intimidate protesters from continuing the demonstration.
Nikki Ulasowski from Hobart told Green Left Weekly that 20 people attended a emergency picket outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in response to the Jakarta police violence. Representatives from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the Tasmanian Trades and Labor Council, the Greens and the Democratic Socialist Party attended. The picket was organised by ASIET and Resistance.
ASIET spokesperson Russell Pickering told the protest: "Just three weeks ago the media was describing Indonesia as the third largest democracy in the world. [July 1's] events clearly demonstrate that little has changed.
"What kind of democracy is it that shoots and beats protesters? The Australian government continues to put its economic and military ties ahead of human rights abuses in that country."