East Timor - Recommendation of ACTU Affiliates Date: 30 April 99=20 Author: ACTU =20 The ACTU convened a meeting of affiliates on Friday 30 April to = discuss the escalating violence in east Timor and discuss a response = from Australian unions.=20 The meeting recommended that the effort of the ACTU and affiliate = unions should be directed towards achieving;=20 i. The right of the East Timorese people to a vote on = autonomy/independence free of intimidation and violence.=20 ii. The provision of aid to East Timor in areas such as medicines and = essential foodstuffs such as food for infants and those living in = poverty. In this regard the meeting endorses the APHEDA/ACTU appeal for = funds to assist East Timorese in need.=20 iii. Preparing to assist in the anticipated transition to independence = through giving assistance in areas such as the development of adequate = health and education systems along with a free and independent trade = union movement.=20 iv. The overall aim of the activities in relation to East Timor should = be to:=20 =B7 Increase pressure on the Indonesian government to stop the = violence by fully disarming the paramilitary militia.=20 =B7 Urge the Australian Government should raise the issue of East = Timor with the UN Security Council to call for the immediate = establishment of a substantial UN peacekeeping force with Australian = participation.=20 =B7 Call for a United Nations peace keeping presence in East Timor to = ensure the integrity of the ballot scheduled for August 8 1999=20 =B7 Increase aid to East Timor to overcome the difficulty caused by = the withdrawal of support from Indonesia=20 =B7 Actively join with international institutions to plan for the = continuation of essential public services in areas such as law and = order, education and health care.=20 =B7 Join with other social and community organisations in achieving = these aims.=20 v. The Australian government must increase it's effort to achieve = action by the Indonesian authorities to restore law and order and disarm = the para-military militia in East Timor. The government must be prepared = to undertake action such as declaring Indonesian embassy personnel as = persona non grata and ceasing all forms of military co-operation.=20 vi. In the event that the violence in East Timor continues and is not = immediately brought under control by the Indonesian authorities the = trade union movement should take wider action, including industrial = action, in support of the East Timorese people. The decisions of = affiliates to authorise industrial action against Indonesian interests = should the violence continue, is endorsed. ACTU affiliates should be = active in publicising our concern with the situation in East Timor, = assisting in fund raising for needs such as medical and food supplies, = and making suitable protests to the Indonesian and Australian = governments.=20 vii. The ACTU supports affiliates encouraging officials and members = participating in the UN activities to supervise the ballot process in = determining the outcome of the questions related to = autonomy/independence.=20 viii. The ACTU will bring its concerns in relation to East Timor to = the attention of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions in = Singapore and Brussels with the request that the IFTCU provide = assistance in the efforts to secure the above goals.=20 ix. The meeting believes that the promise of a peaceful transition to = a independent East Timor made by President Habibie offered the potential = to restore the rights of the East Timorese people free of further = bloodshed. However the actions of the pro-integrationists para military = militia supported by the military threaten to undermine the process and = if left to continue could lead to the deaths of thousands of innocent = people. The trade union movement and other organisations in Australia = must take a stand to support a peaceful transition to independence for = East Timor.=20 Media inquiries: Clare Curran 0417 101 370=20 For further information Contact: Clare Curran=20 Address: 393 Swanston Street=20 Melbourne VIC 3000=20 Australia=20 Work: +61 (03) 9663 5266=20 Fax: +61 (03) 9663 8220=20 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WWW: http://www.actu.asn.au/national/media/ =09 Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
