Campaign for an Independent East Timor (S.A.) Inc.
Member of the Australian Coalition for a Free East Timor
first floor, Torrens House
220 Victoria Square,
ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000
ATTENTION: CHIEF OF STAFF
MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE USE 7 FEBRUARY 1999
DON DUNSTAN, EAST TIMOR AND THE ALP
Andrew Alcock, the Information Officer of the Campaign for an
Independent
East Timor, released the a statement following the death of former
South
Australian premier, Don Dunstan:
"Don Dunstan was a successful, respected and popular political
leader. His
qualities were recognised, not only in SA, but also around
Australia and
throughout the world. He was a brilliant and articulate human
being and
these qualities obviously contributed to his great success as a
politician.
However, the major reason for his success was that he valued
people and
human rights. He did much to advance Aboriginal rights,
multiculturalism
and fought for the right of all people to have full, healthy and
fulfilling
lives no matter what their standing in society or ethnic
background was.
Because Don Dunstan was also an internationalist, it should come
as no
surprise that he opposed the illegal and brutal invasion of East
Timor. He
was a strong supporter of the rights of the East Timorese to
peace, dignity
and independence.
His stand on this issue and others involving the rights of people
often
brought him into conflict with other politicians. It is no secret
that over
the past two decades, the Australian Labor Party moved more away
from its
traditional base of support. Don Dunstan often differed with ALP
leaders
who adopted economic rationalist policies and put so called real
politik
before the rights and needs of people.
He would have been pleased that the ALP has reconsidered its
former policy
on East Timor, come to the conclusion that it was morally wrong
and changed
it. He would have applauded Laurie Brereton for calling for an act
of self
determination for the East Timorese people..
The Campaign believes that Don Dunstan would have wanted
Australian
political leaders to have stopped all military cooperation with
Indonesia.
This move is essential to ensure that the pro Indonesian militias
will not
be able to wreak further terror and bloodshed on the East
Timorese at a
time when they should be able to rebuild their shattered lives and
their
devastated country.
With the passing of Don Dunstan, Australia has lost a strong voice
for
conscience, compassion and commonsense and the East Timorese have
lost a
great advocate. "
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Information Officer
CIET (SA) Inc
Phone: 08 83710480 (home) 08 82053259 (work)
Pager: 08 84157467
Facsimile: 08 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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