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Ramos Horta Calls for Workers’ Support

Nobel Prize winner Jose Ramos Horta has urged Australian workers to do whatever they can to pressure the Indonesian Government to bring the violence in East Timor under control. Includes details of protest actions

	Michael Costa addresses Monday's protest outside Garuda's Sydney office

In a letter to the Labor Council of NSW, Ramos Horta says the support to date has been both practical and appreciated.

But he asks the union movement to "initiate suitable industrial action, such as refusing to service Garuda aircraft".

The ACTU this week endorsed a "campaign for peace" including industrial action, consumer boycotts and lobbying efforts to bring the situation under control. A similar resolution has been endorsed by the NSW Labor Council.

The Sydney community protests are being led by the CFMEU Construction division, which is providing significant resources and logistical support, backed by the Labor Council of NSW.

Meanwhile, many trade unions have already announced action against Indonesian Government and related business interests, including:

* the Maritime Union has imposed bans on all Indonesian ships and Indonesian cargo and will block a shipment of around 80,000 tonnoes of wheat due to be exported next week.

* printing workers are refusing to handle paper products made in Indonesia

* community actions today forced the rescheduling of flights by Garuda Airlines in both Sydney and Melbourne airports.

* postal and telecommunication workers have placed bans on comminations, including fault repairs, to the Indonesian Consulate, other official buildings and Garuda Airlines.

* garbage workers - with the backing of Randwick Council - are refusing to pick up rubbish from the Indonesian Consulate.

* the Australian Workers Union says refinery operators will indefinitely refuse to process Indonesian crude oil.

* the Community and Public Serctor Union has called on the ABC and the Howard government to reopen Radio Australia via the Cox Peninusla short wave transmitter to broadcast information of the crisis into South East Asia.

* the Textile, Clothting and Footwear Union has called for all government departments - including SOCOG - to suspend production contracts with Indonesia (see separate story).

* the Transport Workers Union has banned the airport loading of all Indonesian freight.

* the Australian Nurses Federation has placed members on standby to respond to the looming humanitarian crisis.

* other unionists are voicing their concern directly with the United Nations, the Howard Government and the Indonesian Government.

Consumer Boycott

Individual workers are asked to back a consumer boycott of Indonesian products called by the ACTU. A fill list of firms and products can be found at http://www.freetimor.com

They are also being asked to boycott Indonesian tourist destinations including Bali.

Internationally, the International Transport Workers Federation has called on its 500 affiliates worldwide to follow the example of the MUA and "organise appropriate protest action against Indonesian commercial interests including air and sea traffic coming from or bound for Indonesian ports and airports."

And Britain's peak union body, the Trade Union congree, will consider the issues at its general congress in Blckpool this week.

A Not So Great Australian

But Australian opposition has been marred by Qantas who have threatened staff who take part in any action against the Indonesian airline Garuda.

In a circular to staff dated September 7, Richard Davies, Manager Freight Terminal Melbourne warns staff who refuse to handle or delay the handling of Garuda Freight that there actions are:

- not approved by the Company.

- will result in no payments for the time that they engage in disruptive action.

- and could attract prosecution under the Workplace Relations Act and the Trade Practices Act.

Meanwhile, the union representing Garuda workers has appealed to other unionists to maintain their safety during any protests.

Australian Services Union state secretary Michael Want says his members had been at the forefront of the demonstrations against Indonesia's occupation of East Timor, but called on the protests to remain peaceful.

Protest Actions

Every Night - 7.30pm Pax Christi Mass at vigil outside UN office - 43 York St Sydney - contact CFMEU organiser Gary McCarthy 0412 733 486

* Saturday 11th September: A major protest rally will be held on Saturday, September 11 at 11am in Hyde Park, Sydney; 7.30pm - Fretilin/CNRT fundraiser, Fraser Park Portugese Community & Social Club, Marrickville/Sydenham

* Sunday 12th September: Indonesian Embassy - Contact: Gary McCarthy 0412 733486 CFMEU Organiser

* Tuesday 14th September: 12 pm - Uni NSW Rally - Library Lawn Upper Campus Contact: Peter Slezak, 9385 2422; 1pm -

* Tuesday 14th September - TO BE CONFRIMED - Jose Ramos Horta

* Tuesday 6pm - Campaign planning meeting - Level 4, 361 Kent Street CFMEU

* Wednesday 15th September - 5pm - Town Hall Square Emergency rally and march on UN office to show solidarity with hunger strikers.

* Wednesday 6:30PM (after the rally) fundraising dinner for CNRT (National Council for Timorese Resistance) CFMEU offices, Kent Street, City. Great food, drink, music, traditional Timorese dancing, poetry from Dennis Kevans - all welcome.

Thursday 16th September - 6pm Ecumenical Service St Mary's Cathedral

- 7pm Transport Club - International Socialist meeting - "Timor - Union bans or UN".

Friday 17th September - 8pm Rose, Shamrock & Thistle Hotel (3 Weeds), Evans St Rozelle - Solidarity Choir - Kavisha Mazella - part proceeds to Timor

Saturday 18th September - 11am - Major Rally and march beginning at Hyde Park North * immediately following rally - fundraiser for CNRT (National Council for Timorese Resistance) CFMEU building 361 Kent St. Great food, drink, music...

- 8pm - Dave Steel fundraiser - Rose, Shamrock & Thistle Hotel, Evans St Rozelle.

- 5.30 pm start for 6pm - special screening of the acclaimed film "Punitive Damage" (about the Dili massacre) at Chauvel Cinema, Paddington Town Hall - All proceeds to Community Aid Abroad's Emergency Fund for East Timor.

Monday 20th September - 6.30am Free buses leave CNRT office - 30 Scott St Liverpool for demonstration in Canberra outside Parliament House & Indonesian Embassy. Contact CNRT office 9822 8225.

- 7pm East Timorese Volunteers meeting - Annandale Hotel

Tuesday 21st September

- 6pm Amnesty International Vigil - First Fleet Park - Circular Quay.

Thursday 30th September - 6pm "Timor Nia Klamas" (Soul of Timor) art exhibition. New Guinea Gallery 8th floor Dymocks Building 428 George St City - ph 9232 4737

Volunteers are urgently needed to staff the office at the CFMEU building and distribute leaflets. If you can spare a few hours please give a hand. It would be much appreciated

The support organisation, Australia East Timor Association has suggested the following actions:

- Chinese Consulate 9698 7929 - ring and complain about stalling at Security Council.

- Japanese Consulate 9231 3455 - ring and complain about their support for Indonesian Army as peace-keeping force

Any Time Action

Phone or fax John Howard - insist Australia support a UN sponsored peace keeping force be sent into East Timor to restore order: Canberra phone 02 6277 7700 or Fax 02 6273 4100 Sydney phone 02 9251 5711 or Fax 02 9251 5454

Telstra Workers to Pray for Peace

Telstra workers will take part in a special prayer service this week, reading the following prayer written for the CPSU by Archbishop Belo.

Staff will stop for a minute's prayer on Tuesday.

God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Pillar of Justice and of Peace -

We the members of the CPSU, Ask that you intercede on behalf of the People of East Timor.

Shower your blessings, On the families, the young and the people of East Timor

Protect this martyr people; Heal their troubled land, And grant them peace

So that your Kingdom of Love; of Justice And of Harmony, May Reign in East Timor

  Have we missed your unions' activities? Let us know and we'll update this story.

   Visit the ACTU for full details of the resolution

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 30 contents

»	Ramos Horta Calls for Workers’ Support
»	Sydney Unionists Forced to Leave Dili
»	TWU Questions Timor Action
»	SOCOG Called to Cancel Indonesian Contracts
»	Union Busters To Go Cyber
»	Not-So Aussie Post for Sydney 2000
»	Horror Tales - the Nights of the Living Dead
»	Asbestos Sufferer Bequests $30,000 To Union
»	Woodlawn Workers Edge Towards Justice
»	Telstra Shareholders Asked to Block Union-Busters
»	Reith Letter to be Revealed in Conspiracy Case
»	Shock: Tele Thumbs Up For New Years Eve Holiday
»	Tales From the Picket Line

»	Guest Report
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Piers Watch

»	League's Working Class Takeover
»	Proverb for the Cyber Age
»	Postcard from the Emu
»	Mind Your Language
»	The Other Young Speaker
»	Timor: A Call to Action
»	A Letter to Downer

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