Democracy in Indonesia conference
MELBOURNE — Several hundred people attended a Democracy in Indonesia Conference organised by Community Aid Abroad on August 18-19. The keynote speaker was Indonesian academic George Aditjondro, who called on Australian supporters of the Indonesian democracy movement to get involved in campaigns such as the boycott Bali campaign, and a trade union ban on oil exploration in the Timor Gap.The conference was attended by several Indonesian activists from the labour, press freedom and women's movements. Workshops addressed issues including the new democratic opposition movement and the struggles for selfªdetermination in East Timor, Aceh and West Papua. An Indonesian labour activist criticised ACTU ties with the Indonesian fake trade union, SPSI.
Hemp books banned
BRISBANE — Australian Customs officers have seized six books and magazines imported by the anti-prohibition group HEMP. The books, including Muscle Spasms, Pains and Marijuana Therapy and Cannabis Alchemy, outline the use of marijuana in treating cancer and other diseases and ailments.HEMP spokesperson John Jiggens believes that the books will almost certainly be banned. "Under the pretext of 'preventing the promotion of the misuse of a drug', the government is preventing access to medical information. The information is in no way harmful. Its just more of the same old censorship, another aspect of prohibition", Jiggens told Â鶹´«Ã½. HEMP is organising a picket outside the attorney general's offices on Tuesday, August 29, at 12 noon. For more information phone 217 8432.
WEL seminar on Hindmarsh inquiry
ADELAIDE — The Women's Electoral Lobby organised a seminar here on August 15, entitled "Hindmarsh Island, Women's Business and the Media Blackout". The gathering was addressed by Aboriginal speaker Jo Wilmont, SA Labor president Deidre Tedmanson and Women's Electoral Lobby member and Hindmarsh inquiry witness Betty Fisher.Wilmont urged supporters of Aboriginal rights to actively oppose the state Liberal government's royal commission into Aboriginal women's culture and beliefs. She linked the attacks on Aboriginal people to the ongoing offensive by big business against native title and land rights, and stressed the importance of the Hindmarsh Island case to struggles for justice by urban Aboriginal people.
Union organiser honoured
BRISBANE — Friends and colleagues of former Manufacturing Workers Union organiser Ian McLeod met at Union House here on August 26 to mark his retirement as a full-time union official after 17 years.The function, organised by the South-East Branch of the Socialist Party of Australia, heard tributes to Ian's work in the industrial and Latin American solidarity areas, as well as his activities as a long-time socialist militant.