Campaign for an Independent East Timor (South Australia) Inc.
(Affiliated to the International Federation for East Timor, the East Timor
Relief Association, the Australian Coalition for a Free East Timor and the
Australia East Timor Network)
c/o Development Education Centre first floor 220 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000
MEDIA STATEMENT: 30 SEPTEMBER 1999
ATTENTION: CHIEF OF STAFF
SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S LABOUR DAY FOCUSES ON EAST TIMOR - FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER 1999
- STOP THE SLAUGHTER NOW
- ECONOMIC SANCTIONS NOW
- SUPPORT THE UN PEACEKEEPERS
- WORKERS STOP WORK FOR EAST TIMOR ON LABOUR DAY
The following statement was released today by Andrew Alcock, Information
Officer of CIET (SA) Inc.:
"It is significant that the key focus of the 1999 Labour Day in South
Australia is East Timor. South Australian workers and unionists like their
counterparts in other parts of Australia have demonstrated their concern at
recent events in East Timor and have taken action in solidarity with the
people of East Timor.
The action by the union movement is consistent with the historic Australian
union commitment to international peace and justice. In 1938, waterside
workers put black bans on the loading of BHP scrap iron onto ships that
were bound for Tojo's Japan. The action was taken in solidarity with China
which had already suffered greatly due to the bloody invasion and
occupation by Japan.
After World War 2, Australian unions maintained bans on Dutch ships in
Australian wharves that were loading soldiers and armaments intended for
Indonesia to crush the independence movement against Dutch colonialism. The
solidarity actions lasted for four years and contributed significantly to
the success of Indonesia's independence movement.
A special guest speaker at the rally will be Helder da Costa, a prominent
member of South Australia's East Timorese community. Mr da Costa is an
economics PhD student at the University of Adelaide. He recently attended
a special action meeting in Darwin with East Timorese independence leader,
Xanana Gusmao.
In November 1996, Mr da Costa was in the world headlines after he was
detained and expelled from Malaysia where he had attended the international
Asia Pacific Conference on East Timor. There was worldwide concern for his
safety when Malaysian authorities sent him to Indonesia to face
interrogation for his involvement in the conference.
Fellow detainees contacted Australian universities and Amnesty
International in London. As a result of the intense international lobbying
that followed, Helder da Costa was released by Indonesian authorities to
continue his studies in South Australia.
On his return to Adelaide, a few days later, he was forced to shun
publicity for security reasons. Mr da Costa is currently the president of
the Organising Committee of East Timorese in South Australia.
Other speakers at the rally will include UTLC, Secretary Chris White; ALP
State Parliamentarian, Steph Key; and CIET (SA) Inc Information Officer,
Andy Alcock (who was also detained with Helder da Costa in Malaysia in
1996)".
Andrew (Andy) Alcock (Information Officer):
Phone: 61 8 83710480 (home) 61 8 82053259 (work)
Pager: 61 8 82734382
Facsimile: 61 8 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
COMING EVENTS
SA LABOUR DAY RALLY
WORKERS STOPWORK FOR EAST TIMOR
12 NOON FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER 1999
Victoria Square Adelaide
March to Elder Park (Special Guest Speaker: Helder da Costa)
12 NOVEMBER 1999 EAST TIMOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
(8th Anniversary of the Santa Cruz/Dili Massacre)
More details to follow
20 NOVEMBER 1999 7.30 EAST TIMOR INDEPENDENCE DINNER
(To observe 24th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence)
Unley Senior Citizens Centre, Arthur St, Unley
(Organised by the Campaign for an Independent East Timor SA Inc)
DONATIONS:
EAST TIMOR RELIEF ASSOCIATION
any Commonwealth Bank branch
Pay into the Smith St, Collingwood Branch of the Commonwealth
Bank(AccountNumber:3123/10124474)
RED CROSS
Inquire at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank
COMMUNITY AID ABROAD East Timor Appeal
Ring: 1800 034 034
APHEDA Australian People for Health, Education and
Development Abroad (ACTU's aid organisation)
Ask at local union offices
CARITAS Catholic Aid Agency
Ring: 1800 024 413 08 82108172 (Adelaide Office)
--
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