DARWIN — A Timor Sea Justice Campaign public meeting and video night on July 21 heard the latest developments in the campaign to stop the Australian government's theft of East Timor's oil and gas resources.
Solidarity activist Robyn Waite, who recently returned from East Timor, outlined the formation and activity of the Dili-based Movement Against the Occupation of the Timor Sea (MKOTT). She described protests in April and May organised by MKOTT and the Alliance of Socialist Youth in front of the Australian embassy.
"The movement is going through a reconsolidation process while planning its next actions", Waite explained. Further protests in Dili are likely to coincide with the next negotiations on the maritime boundary, which will take place in Canberra in September.
Waite also introduced a documentary made by activists in Dili that features the MKOTT protests. The meeting agreed that Darwin would join in with other protest actions planned across Australia on September 20.
[For copies of the MKOTT Timor Sea documentary email <tsjc_darwin@yahoo.com.au> or phone Jon on 0438 162 597.]
Jon Lamb
Meeting discusses impact of Iraq invasion
SYDNEY — Alison Broinowski, a former diplomat and author, told a public meeting organised by the Sydney Peace and Justice Coalition on July 18 that the crisis of liberal democracy today had reached a new high.
She critiqued the recently released white paper on terrorism by "Lord Downer of Bagdad" and said that the US was letting Saudi Arabia and Osama bin Laden off the hook by focusing exclusively on Iraq. She said that the ALP was correct to commit to pull the troops out by Christmas and to call for greater United Nations involvement in Iraq.
Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett was the only speaker to argue that at least some of the Australian troops should stay in Iraq "to work with the UN". He said that this was the best way to help the Iraqi people.
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle argued that the Iraqis would be best assisted by all the troops leaving. She quoted a number of surveys that indicated this was the majority feeling in Iraq. Until the occupation ended, she said, all talk of sovereignty in Iraq was a lie.
Former Liberal president John Valder repeated his call for PM John Howard to be tried for war crimes. Tanya Plibersek from the ALP stressed that Labor "had always opposed the war" and that Mark Latham's call was for the troops to come out "as quickly as possible". She said that the ALP had also always supported the UN's involvement, and that in government Labor would support the UN's timetable for full Iraqi sovereignty.
Pip Hinman
Opera House 'No war' appeal
SYDNEY — David Burgess and Will Saunders, who painted "No war" on the Sydney Opera House early last year, will appeal their convictions on July 29.
The Stop the War Coalition will hold a solidarity picket at 9am at the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.
Burgess and Saunders are serving a nine-month sentence of weekend detention. In addition, the two men must pay $151,000 to the Opera House Trust. Last December $40,000 was paid and a forthcoming installment will tip the payment over halfway.
Donations can be deposited into the "Opera House No War Clean-Up Fund", Bendigo Bank, Strathfield branch, BSB 633000, account 119414043. Cheques and money orders should be sent to PO Box 928, Glebe NSW 2037. For further details go to <http://www.sydneyoperahousenowar.org>.
Iggy Kim
From Green Left Weekly, July 28, 2004.
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