Inside:
Bali bombing: reports and analysis:
· Repression unleashed?
· Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific
· FNPBI Indonesian unionists call for action on Bali bombing
Socialist Alliance: reports and analysis:
· Left unity means uniting with the working class
· Cunningham By-election
· Left Unity meeting
Blackshirts and community resistance
Refugees – Tampa, SIEV X Anniversary of shame
NZ – left regroupment
Mobilise to stop the war drive – discussion
British Socialist Alliance backs Fire Fighters strike action
Book review: China and the global economy
FFilm review: Wedding in Ramallah
Afghanistan’s peace that isn’t
Plese note the new URL for our website:
htttp://australia.workersliberty.org/
Editorial
Bali bombing –
Unleashing more repression?
We condemn the bombing in Bali, and offer our deepest sympathies to the
victims from all countries.
Discovering the truth
We have no trust in the Indonesian police and military (the butchers of
East Timor, Aceh, West Papua) to conduct an inquiry that will discover
the truth. We have no trust in The USA (most recently the butchers of
Afghanistan and Iraq), or the Howard government (the USA's unconditional
ally) to uncover the truth.
The results of investigations so far as reported in the media are
contradictory. Cases are being made that the perpetrators are Islamic
fundamentalists, possibly associated with Al Quaeda or with Jemmah Islamiah.
But there is a long history in Indonesia of collaboration with such
reactionary Islamists by sections of the ruling elite and the army in
pursuit of their interests. The bombs could be aimed at weakening the
Megawati government. There is speculation that elements of the TNI (the
Indonesian military) could have played a role in the bombing. Others
allege that it could be a US plot to keep the threat of "terrorism" alive.
None of these explanations is beyond belief, which means that any of the
police and military forces which are being authorised to investigate the
bombing, conceivably could have reasons for covering up.
The Indonesian authorities may well frame a guilty party in order to
appear to be addressing the problem.
With guardians like these
We have no confidence in the US led "war on terror" to keep us safe from
such attacks. In 13 months since September 11 they have failed to
capture Osama bin Laden. They have murdered Afghan civilians by the
thousands, and they have spent the last several months preparing war on
Iraq and Saddam Hussein who has not been connected with either attack.
Meanwhile the governments of several countries where evidence has
strongly suggested that Islamist terrorists operate (Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan, Indonesia) have not taken any action, but the USA approves of
these governments and has done nothing.
The Howard Governments' priorities were revealed with its failure to
publish a warning from the US State Department that tourist destinations
in Indonesia were serious targets. A serious warning from US
intelligence that energy supply infrastructure in Indonesia was a likely
target was published and acted upon. Australian capital invested in
Indonesia had to be protected. But diplomatic relations with Indonesia
seem to have been considered more important than issuing a warning that
might have led some Australian tourists to stay away from Bali.
Freedoms
The reaction to this bombing by the governments in Indonesia, Australia
and other countries is likely to be to increase police and army powers
and to further curtail civil liberties and freedoms. We know that Bush,
Howard and their cronies will try to use this horror for their political
ends.
First up in Australia will be a renewed push to pass the laws to extend
ASIO's powers to clamp down on civil liberties. The ALP and other
parties have opposed the ASIO laws so far - we call on them to refuse to
buckle under to Howard on the back of these events. Bush and Howard will
try to use this tragedy to argue for a renewed clamp on civil liberties
and for "strong states" throughout Asia - for Malaysia's Internal
Security Act, for Indonesia to crack down on dissent of all types.
Within 10 days of the Bali bombing Megawati had introduced decrees that
increased police powers to arrest and detain without trial. In Indonesia
this is particularly dangerous for the fledgling trade union and
democratic movements, against whom the state will not hesitate to use
the laws when they judge the time is right.
The political dangers in Indonesia are grave - there could be a return
to naked military dictatorship, unelected presidency, intensified
repression of national independence struggles, an Islamist resurgence
and the repression of women which it typically carries out, a split in
the military along sectarian lines.
Our response to this bombing is:
For Australian unions to express their solidarity with Indonesian unions
and workers for:
· a joint Indonesian – Australian union led inquiry into the bombing
· defence against threats to workers and democratic rights, from state
repression in Indonesia, Australia and the countries of the region, and
from reactionary Islamic fundamentalism particularly in Indonesia.
· open discussion on public safety within the context of maintaining
civil libertes, in Indonesia and Australia, in the wake of the bombing.
· all information gathered by any official Australian, Indonesian or
other inquiries to be made public.
· quality medical treatment for all the victims of the bombing, whether
Balinese, Australian or any other nationality.
· no war against Iraq, it is a fake "war on terror".
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