AUT: Indonesian Unionists back East Timor freedom struggle

[Torvald Patterson <torvald@xxxxxxxxxxxx> (by way of pmargin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Steve Wright))]

>Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 11:51:26 +1000 (GMT+1000)
>From: owner-asietnews-l@xxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Indonesian Unionists back East Timor freedom struggle

>(The following statement was sent to ACTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH INDONESIA AND
>EAST TIMOR - ASIET)
>
>FNPBI statement on East Timor
>
>The ballot, offered as a way to resolve the 24-year old crisis in East Timor
>has been completed.  The results show that the Timorese people reject the
>special autonomy offered by the Indonesian government and have chosen to be
>a free nation.
>
>The Timorese struggle to be a free nation have gone on for many centuries
>against Portuguese colonialism and then against the militaristic Indonesian
>government.  They have paid a high price, both physically and materially to
>wage that struggle.  The Indonesian military invasion since 1975 has cost
>more than 200,000 lives and led to many human rights abuses including
>beatings and rapes.  The international community's response to the military
>acts of Indonesia depended on the Cold War interests of each country at the
>time.
>
>After the ballot was completed and  a series massacres of pro-independence
>forces, UN staff and journalists by pro-integration militia members
>(supported by Indonesian military and police) commenced, the international
>community has again taken a position on the issue of East Timor.  In this
>case, the international community has condemned the Indonesian government
>who are thought of as no longer able to provide security  in the territory.
>Condemnation and international pressure has come from Australia from its
>government and through the call for bans on Indonesian products by
>Australian trade unions.  In one instance, there was even the incident of
>flag burning at a demonstration outside an Indonesian consulate.  The
>response to this by several forces was to retaliate and burn the Australian
>flag and to invade the Australian Embassy in Indonesia.
>These actions show the low level of understanding of the history of the
>struggle in East Timor and the shifting of the conflict from the massacres
>carried out in East Timor to a conflict between two countries.
>In responding to the situation that has arisen since the ballot in East
>Timor, the National Front for Indonesian Labour Struggle (FNBPI) hereby
>express:
>
>* Our full support for the results of the ballot in East Timor, as a
>reflection of the aspirations of the East Timorese to determine their own
>fate
>
>* Our condemnation of the anti democratic acts committed by the pro-autonomy
>forces of TNI and POLRI (Indonesian police)
>
>* Our condemnation of all acts of murder and destruction by TNI and POLRI
>committed against the innocent civilians of East Timor
>
>* Our condemnation of all acts of violence by TNI and POLRI which have
>driven out the Timorese from their own country
>
>The FNPBI therefore demand:
>
>* Immediate withdrawal of TNI and POLRI from East Timor
>
>* Disbanding of militias which are supported and armed by TNI and POLRI
>
>* Formation and entry of international peacekeeping forces into East Timor
>
>* That all forces to respect the results of the ballot which is a reflection
>of the aspirations of the Timorese
>
>* End to all support given by the Indonesian government to the militias
>
>* End to the sending of Indonesian security forces to East Timor
>
>We declare our full support for all the solidarity actions and strikes
>conducted by trade unions worldwide.
>
>We call on the international community, especially the workers to maintain
>pressure on the Indonesian government through strikes/industrial action,
>economic sanctions and other forms of pressure.
>
>Jakarta 11 September 1999
>
>National Front for Indonesian Labour Struggle
>
>Dita Indah Sari
>Chairperson
>
>Ilham Syah
>General Secretary
>
>****************
>
>
>
>ACTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH INDONESIA AND EAST TIMOR (ASIET)
>P.O. BOX 458, BROADWAY NSW 2007
>Tel: 02-96901230  Fax: 02-96901381  Email: asiet@xxxxxxxxxxx  Homepage:
>www.peg.apc.org/~asiet
>
>
>
>
>
>



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