Indonesia:
down with Suharto's police state
On the 20 November 40 COSATU members were arrested outside
parliament. Their crime? Protesting against the visit of Indonesian
dictator Mohamed Suharto. This was in line with COSATU's commitment
to opposing the brutal Indonesian regime.
Suharto seized power in Indonesia in 1965 as part of a military
coup aided by the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency). Within four
months, the new regime murdered about one million communists and
their families, as well ethnic Chinese.
In the thirty years since this mass murder, Suharto has never
been charged. Instead, he has regularly received aid from the West.
Suharto has since built up a vast business empire, and his family is
worth R 150 billion.
There is no political freedom in Indonesia, a country of 200
million. At present union leaders are in jail for associating with
illegal political parties. There is no workers freedom. Only one fake
"official" trade union is allowed, strikes are banned, and workers
organising against the brutal exploitation of the workers are often
tortured and killed by State forces. At least 8 unionists are
currently jailed, including the general-secretary of the banned SBSI
union federation: Mutchtar Pakhpahan.
In 1975 Indonesia colonised East Timor. More than a third of that
country's population has died since. Xanana Gusmao, the East
Timorese activist, remains jailed.
COSATU has described conditions in Indonesia as "worse than
apartheid South Africa".
Mandela has not condemned the regime. Instead he has called
Suharto a "close friend" who gave money to the ANC for the 1994
elections. Mandela has said co-operation and trade link between the
two countries have grown. Suharto received the South African state's
highest award - the Order of Good Hope - when he visited South Africa
this year. The award should be withdrawn. Sanctions should be imposed
on the Indonesian regime. COSATU has committed itself to protesting
the Indonesian regime- we should all support this campaign.
FIGHT CRIME: DEAL WITH SUHARTO! RELEASE ALL POLITICAL AND TRADE
UNION PRISONERS!
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