[Marxism] Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference, Sydney: Acehnese democratic movement leaders to attend

[glparramatta <glparramatta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

3rd Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference, 24-28 March, 2005

Ashfield Boys High School, Liverpool Rd., Ashfield, Sydney.

Organised by GREEN LEFT WEEKLY in association with Action in Solidarity
with Asia and the Pacific (ASAP)

Speakers from The Philippines - South Korea - Vietnam - Aceh - Indonesia
- West Papua - India - Pakistan - Sri Lanka - Bangladesh - New Zealand -
East Timor - United States - Europe - Turkey - Nepal and more being
added all the time.

THE ACEHNESE ARE COMING!!!!!

We have received confirmation that two Acehnese democratic movement
leaders will be attending APISC 2005. Both of these women, who have been
active in Aceh and Jakarta, fighting for democracy and freedom have also
been on the ground in Aceh in the aftermath of the Tusnami. They are
Chairperson of ORPAD, (Organisasi Perempuan Aceh Demokratik, the
Acehnese Democratic Women's Organization), and Zelly Ariane, the current
Secretary-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD)

Six months in prison


At 2 p.m on July 16, 2002, seven human rights defenders from ORPAD
(Organisasi Perempuan Aceh Demokratik, the Acehnese Democratic Women's
Organization), were arrested while staging a peaceful protest in Banda
Aceh. The next day all were released, except for Raihana Diany, ORPAD's
chairperson. Raihana was subsequently charged under article 134 of the
Indonesian criminal code for insulting the head of state.

The charges specifically related to her involvement in scribbling over a
portrait of President Megawati at the July 16 protest. According to the
prosecution, Raihana led the six other demonstrators in carrying several
banners, including one which read, "Replace Mega-Hamzah for Aceh
freedom, form a Government of the poor People." They also carried
pictures of the president and vice president, which had been marked over
with an "X."

On January 7, 2003, Raihana was found guilty and sentenced to six months
of imprisonment. Because she had been in detention since July 16, 2002,
she only had an extra nine days to serve before being released. After
leaving prison Raihana returned to chair ORPAD and continues to campaign
for the rights of women in Aceh.

The Solidarity of People Movement for Aceh (SEGERA

As a member of ORPAD, Raihan is also a member of SEGERA. The Solidarity
of People Movement for Aceh (SEGERA) - is a coalition that struggles for
the democratic rights of the Acehnese people which was formed in 2001,
The coalition comprises labour unions, student organizations, Acehnese
pro-democracy organizations and some political parties Among the grouops
belonging to SEGERA, is the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD). The current
secretary-general of the PRD, is Zelly Ariane, who also is of Acehnese
descent. Since the December 2004 tsunami hit Aceh, Zelly has been
helping co-ordinate SEGERA's response to the relief effort from SEGERA's
aid post in Jakarta. Raihan has, naturally, also been involved. Raihan
is in Aceh helping with SEGERA's relief operations as well as the
struggle to rebuild the democratic movement's structures. Zelly Aruine,
also recently left Jakarta to help in Aceh, as well as look for her family.

SEGERA also campaigns for a full self-determination referendum in Aceh.

Sri Lanka Tsunami report and analysis

Also attending APISC 2005, will be Reihana Mohideen. Reihana Mohideen is
an Australian of Sri Lankan descent, who is now living in the
Philippines and is a part of the leadership of the Socialist party of
the Philippines (SPP). She also left M<anila soon after the Tsunami hit
Sri Lanka to participate in the relief efforts. She will also be
speaking at the conference, both on the situation in the Philippines and
the region, as well as on the politics og the Tsunami aftermath in Sri
Lanka.

PUBLIC MEETING, Thursday 24 March

BRING THEM HOME NOW! Iraq, War and Peace

Speaker: Stan Goff, former US military special operations soldier, now
campaigning against the US government as a leader of the US anti-war
movement and author of books and articles on US foreign policy,
militarism and gender issues.

REGISTER NOW AND SAVE!!!

If we receive your registration before January 23, you will be eligible
for discount registration: High waged: AUD$100; Waged AUD$80; Unwaged
AUD$50 and High School Students AUD$20.

Print out this email, fill in the form and send it with cheque or money
order to:

APISC 2005, P.O. Box 458, Broadway NSW 2007.

Cheques. Orders should be made payable to: APISC 2005-01-13

...............................................................................

Name:

Address:

Email: Tel:

Organisation (if any):

I have enclosed cheque/money order for $100/$80/$50/$20

Please register me for the APISC 2005 conference!



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