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  Issue No 91 Official Organ of LaborNet 06 April 2001  

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International

East Timor – Beyond the Headlines


It's now more than 18 months since the violence and bloodshed following the popular consultation on the future of East Timor was front page news in Australia.

 
 

But for the East Timorese people, the struggle to rebuild their country as a peaceful and stable democracy is very much an ongoing one. Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA has recently been successful with a three-year contract from AusAID for programs in East Timor. These will build on pilot activities undertaken over the last 15 months in a very practical demonstration of Australian unions' solidarity with the people of East Timor.

The East Timorese people face major challenges as they rebuild their country. East Timor is one of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia in terms of both economic and social indicators, but also as a direct result of the impact of the violence that followed the 1999 popular consultation. There is frustration with lack of employment opportunities, services, information and consultation. Illiteracy is long standing and is estimated at 49% nationally. Lack of vocational skills, lack of services, poor infrastructure and few opportunities for training are further issues. In the context of long-term oppression and transition, a vibrant, competent civil society will be important if East Timor is to achieve a peaceful and stable democracy.

This new AusAID funding will enable Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA to further expand work currently underway in three areas. Firstly, to expand non-formal vocational training and literacy training projects; secondly, to strengthen East Timorese community based organisations, particularly in the districts; and thirdly, to increase assistance to the development of community radio working with the Timor Loro Sae Journalists Association.

This is great news for our East Timorese partner organisations including the East Timor NGO Forum, the Labour Advocacy Institute for East Timor (LAIFET), the East Timorese Student Women's Group (GFFTL), emerging community radio stations and the Timor Loro Sae Journalists Association (TLJA). Trust and networks developed between Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and local communities and groups such as these form the strong base of the project.

Also participating in the vocational and literacy training project are three Australian training institutions from the adult education sector - AMES Victoria, the CFMEU's COMET and the AMWU's MISTAS. They will assist, at cost or in some cases, for free, with training modules in ESL, literacy, construction, small business skills accreditation and vocational training. MEAA is also supporting the media development project.

The East Timor program will need ongoing fundraising in Australia to supplement the AusAID funds, and one of the challenges will be keeping the ongoing struggle of the Timorese to rebuild their country in the public consciousness over the next few years.

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA has been working in East Timor since 1998, and has had an office in Dili since December 1999. For further information or to find out more about supporting these projects, contact us through our website www.apheda.org.au or email [email protected]

East Timor - Beyond the Headlines

It's now more than 18 months since the violence and bloodshed following the popular consultation on the future of East Timor was front page news in Australia.

But for the East Timorese people, the struggle to rebuild their country as a peaceful and stable democracy is very much an ongoing one. Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA has recently been successful with a three-year contract from AusAID for programs in East Timor. These will build on pilot activities undertaken over the last 15 months in a very practical demonstration of Australian unions' solidarity with the people of East Timor.

The East Timorese people face major challenges as they rebuild their country. East Timor is one of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia in terms of both economic and social indicators, but also as a direct result of the impact of the violence that followed the 1999 popular consultation. There is frustration with lack of employment opportunities, services, information and consultation. Illiteracy is long standing and is estimated at 49% nationally. Lack of vocational skills, lack of services, poor infrastructure and few opportunities for training are further issues. In the context of long-term oppression and transition, a vibrant, competent civil society will be important if East Timor is to achieve a peaceful and stable democracy.

This new AusAID funding will enable Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA to further expand work currently underway in three areas. Firstly, to expand non-formal vocational training and literacy training projects; secondly, to strengthen East Timorese community based organisations, particularly in the districts; and thirdly, to increase assistance to the development of community radio working with the Timor Loro Sae Journalists Association.

This is great news for our East Timorese partner organisations including the East Timor NGO Forum, the Labour Advocacy Institute for East Timor (LAIFET), the East Timorese Student Women's Group (GFFTL), emerging community radio stations and the Timor Loro Sae Journalists Association (TLJA). Trust and networks developed between Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and local communities and groups such as these form the strong base of the project.

Also participating in the vocational and literacy training project are three Australian training institutions from the adult education sector - AMES Victoria, the CFMEU's COMET and the AMWU's MISTAS. They will assist, at cost or in some cases, for free, with training modules in ESL, literacy, construction, small business skills accreditation and vocational training. MEAA is also supporting the media development project.

The East Timor program will need ongoing fundraising in Australia to supplement the AusAID funds, and one of the challenges will be keeping the ongoing struggle of the Timorese to rebuild their country in the public consciousness over the next few years.

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA has been working in East Timor since 1998, and has had an office in Dili since December 1999. For further information or to find out more about supporting these projects, contact us through our website www.apheda.org.au or email [email protected]


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*   View entire issue - print all of the articles!

*   Issue 91 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Costa on Compo
Labor Council’s secretary gives his take on the Big Stink over Della’s workers compensation package.
*
*  Politics: Della's List
All Labor members of Parliament were this week asked to indicate whether they would support injured workers. More than half said 'yes'. Here they are.
*
*  Unions: Picketing Joy
Rowan Cahill chronicled the definitive dispute of 2000 for Workers Online. He looks back on the battle and the lessons to be drawn from the workers at Joy.
*
*  History: Vale Tony Mulvihill
The environment, migrant workers and the hairy nosed wombat have reason to be thankful for the active citizenship of Tony Mulvihill.
*
*  Economics: Stopping the Rot
A national campaign is underway to persuade politicians from both the major parties that they need to be addressing the issue of poverty within Australia.
*
*  International: East Timor – Beyond the Headlines
It’s now more than 18 months since the violence and bloodshed following the popular consultation on the future of East Timor was front page news in Australia.
*
*  Technology: Online Breathing Space
The global collapse of faith in new technology has given journalists a chance to prepare themselves for the real revolution, writes David Higgins
*
*  Satire: Howard Cuts Beer Price to Get Voters Drunk
Prime Minister John Howard has agreed to cut the excise on beer, in the hope cheaper drinks will help get the country drunk enough to vote for him.
*
*  Review: The Battle for 96.9Fm is Over
What would you get if you crossed 2DAY FM, 2MMM, JJJ and MIX 106.5 FM? A fairly commercial radio station that wouldn’t know the difference between throwing up, stuffing up, growing up or breaking up.
*

News
»  Compo Wars: Week Two to the Workers!
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»  Doctors Don’t Want to be Judges
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»  Cops Eye Ball Compo Changes
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»  Armoured Car Drivers To Consider Stop Work
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»  IT Workers – We Need You!
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»  Banks Workers Show They’re No Bunnies
*
»  English Teachers Ripped Off
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»  Beazley Gives Boost To Bakery Workers
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»  Employment, Environment Vital to US-Australia Trade Deal
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»  Extra $1.37 Billion Needed for Unis
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»  Campaigning Workshop Establishes Local Campaign Initiative
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»  Activist Notebook
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Columns
»  The Soapbox
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»  The Locker Room
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»  Trades Hall
*
»  Tool Shed
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Letters to the editor
»  Organising - Dools Causes a Storm
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»  Dools Replies
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»  Singalong with Della!
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»  Compo Forum - A Lib Responds
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»  Like a Lamb to the Slaughter
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