From: TRox51 at aol.com Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 12:43:58 EDT Subject: The AFL-CIO's capitulation on East Timor
To my friends and comrades in the labor movement and others that care about human rights:
With the Australian unions and human rights movement in the lead, the Australian people are refusing to buy, load or unload Indonesian goods in response to Indonesia's terror campaign in East Timor. The Canadian Labor Congress has done the same, and has begun a nationwide boycott of Indonesian goods. In both countries, labor leaders have noted the direct role of the Indonesian military in the carnage that has occured in East Timor. But look at the AFL-CIO. Until Monday the 13th, there wasn't a peep out of 16th Street in Northwest Washington. Then finally John Sweeney issued a statement, reprinted here, below the statements from the CLC in Canada. In contrast to the labor movements abroad, Sweeney's statement merely reflects what the Clinton administration is saying. Note a couple things - at no point does Sweeney link the violence in East Timor to the Indonesian military. Instead, like Secretary of State Albright, he merely notes that the Indonesian government has 'failed to maintain law and order.' But anybody paying attention (or listening to the reports from the courageous journalist Allen Nairn from Timor that have been broadcast on Amy Goodman's Democracy Now program on Pacifica) it is the Indonesian military that has organized and led the militias that are now destroying East Timor and massacering its people. Sweeney's statement reflects the AFL-CIO's absolute devotion to the Clinton administration and a cowardly refusal to even mutely criticize the United States for backing the Indonesian military all these years. Is this what we expected from 'new labor'? Where is the call to boycott Indonesian goods? Is the AFL-CIO afraid of hurting Nike, Mobil and other multinationals in Indonesia? This is truly a disgraceful moment for American labor. Tim Shorrock 301 585 4245
Georgetti: ``We won't buy nor handle Indonesian goods.'' Calls on Canada to cut trade and aid.
OTTAWA, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - The Canadian Labour Congress has agreed to declare goods from Indonesia ``hot cargo.'' Unions in the ports, and others in transportation and communication are investigating what steps they can take to impede the flow of goods to and from Indonesia.
The CLC is also calling on union members to boycott consumer goods made in Indonesia.
``Indonesia has welcomed a peacekeeping force but this is not enough,'' says Georgetti. The boycott will remain in place until:
- the Indonesian military brings the militias under control in East
Timor, and withdraws troops responsible for the atrocities;
- Indonesia guarantees the safety and health of refugees who have fled or
been deported to the camps of West Timor;
- Indonesia actively assists international peacekeepers, and helps
humanitarian agencies provide food and other supplies to East and West
Timor;
- Indonesia allows the UN to supervise the return of East Timorese
forcibly deported.
The CLC will publicize a list of products known to be manufactured in Indonesia and will work in the coming days to expand that list. The list will also be available on the CLC web site at www.clc-ctc.ca.
``We're telling our members to `check the label' and if it's from Indonesia, or if there is a chance it's been produced in Indonesia, don't buy it.''
The boycott is expected to affect shoes made by companies like NIKE, and the Canadian company Bata; crayons and pencils, paper and some food products. Members are asked not to take vacations at Indonesian destinations like Bali.
The Canadian Labour Congress joins the Australian Congress of Trade Unions and other national labour centres which are responding to calls by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions to intensify protest actions, and increase financial and political pressure on Indonesia.
Georgetti also expressed dismay at the slow response by the Canadian government. ``In the past few weeks they seem to be far more concerned about good relations with Indonesia, than they are about stopping the slaughter of the East Timorese. I hope that investment opportunities for Canadian companies in Indonesia haven't blinded the Canadian government to the dreadful human rights violations and murders in East Timor. Indonesia is known to be the largest Canadian investment destination in South East Asia - over 100 Canadian-based companies are active there, and the investment value exceeds $8 billion.''
The CLC has called on Canada and Canadian companies to announce a temporary halt to new investment, and aid for Indonesia until we have firm evidence that the killings and the terror have ended.
``We urge the Canadian government to support the call by United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson for a war crimes tribunal. Those who have butchered innocent men, women and children must be brought to account,'' concluded Georgetti.
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For further information: Tom O'Brien, (613) 526-7425; Lois Ross, (613) 526-7426
Forces consider Indonesia options, CLC acts
JOHN WARD
OTTAWA (CP) - While the military struggled to find a contribution to an East Timor peace force on Tuesday, the Canadian Labour Congress declared economic war on Indonesia.
The congress, exasperated by what it sees as the government's failure to act, called for a consumer boycott of all Indonesian goods and asked its members to refuse to handle cargo coming from or bound for the country.
A CLC affiliate, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, announced that it won't deliver mail to the Indonesian Embassy until peacekeepers are in East Timor.
The government has cut off any military aid to the Asian archipelago, but has balked at tougher economic sanctions.
"We are disappointed at the slowness of the Canadian government to act on this," Ken Georgetti, president of the 2.3-million-member congress said in announcing the boycott.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Art Eggleton outlined a number of options for a military contribution to East Timor, ranging from a small infantry unit that would have to rely on Australia for food, supplies and medical services, to a ship or perhaps some Hercules transport planes.
One problem, he said, is that the United Nations Security Council hasn't yet defined or authorized a force for East Timor. It could be a full-fledged "blue-beret" peacekeeping mission or it might be a coalition operation with UN approval.
"In either event, Canada is willing to be a part of that and we are currently looking at various options in terms of military participation."
Such a force would enter East Timor and bring humanitarian aid and order to a region which has been the scene of bloody massacres since an independence plebiscite Aug. 30. The violence is blamed on elements in the Indonesian army said to back anti-independence militias.
The Canadian Forces are stretched thin by heavy commitments in the Balkans, where almost 3,000 troops are in Kosovo and Boznia-Herzegovina.
The main shortages are among support specialists such as medics, cooks, mechanics, signallers and logistics people.
"We've looked at what we might be able to provide that would not further aggravate those overstretched components of the Canadian Forces," Eggleton said.
For example, a company of about 250 infantry might be sent to join an Australian unit, which would provide the needed support services.
"We could also send one of our naval ships out of the West Coast, which could be there in approximately 30 days time. We could, perhaps, also provide Hercules aircraft."
These medium-lift transport planes could be on duty in a week to 10 days.
The navy might send HMCS Protecteur, a big supply vessel which carries Sea King helicopters and sophisticated communications gear and which can refuel other ships at sea.
While the Defence Department juggled resources, the CLC took dead aim at Indonesia.
It listed a variety of Indonesian-made goods, including some Nike products, some Eveready batteries and Spalding tennis balls. The list, available at the congress web site at <www.clc-ctc.ca>, includes everything from china to dried coconut.
"Check the label," Georgetti said. "If in doubt, don't buy."
It's the labour group's biggest boycott since it urged a ban on products from South Africa in apartheid days.
Georgetti said he wants his members to refuse to handle Indonesian goods. Don't unload them from ships and planes, don't put them on store shelves.
He admitted that this may lead to problems with employers, but he urged business to join the campaign.
"We're also calling on Canadian companies who do business in Indonesia and are contemplating doing business in Indonesia to cease their investments right now. We're asking Canadian companies where our members are employed to help us."
Made in Indonesia
FOOD PRODUCTS
Admiral coconut cream
Bali Kitchen products
Corinthians Choc Cream Wafers
Farmland desiccated coconut
Indomie noodle products
McKenzie's desiccated coconut
Michiyo noodles
Savings desiccated coconut
Supermine soy products
Tauco sauce products
STATIONERY
All purpose Copy Paper
Crown Super Copy Paper
Economy copy paper
Pacesetter copy paper
Victory copy paper
Crayola crayons
Feedback form for comments at
www.crayola.com/global/email.html
Faber Castell pencils*
Email: AWFaber USA at aol.com
KiKo pencils
Spicers paper* and Spicers Olympic A4 note book
Email: spicers at spicers.com
Spirex notebooks
Texta*
OTHER
Price torch batteries
Eveready batteries*
Energizer 9V (2pack) Century
Exide car batteries
Feedback form at Exide Feedback
Besco car batteries
Price Torch batteries
Yuasa car batteries
Feedback form at Yuasa Feedback
Multix garbage bags
Tiger garbage bags
Bi Lo matches
Savings Safety Matches
Pasco toilet rolls
Gloweave
Capital Royal Doulton chinawear
Mayfair & Jackson glassware
Philips Spotline globes
Summit outdoor furniture (Kmart)
Market Umbrella 10" X 82" (Kmart)
Spalding Tennis balls
Nike* (Go to www.nike.com and click on"Talk to Us" to get to a feedback form)
Rio "Everyday Wear" socks
BUSINESS SHIRTS
River Gum "Classics" I/S
Now "Wrinkle Resistant"
CHECK THESE FOR "MADE IN INDONESIA"
Bali style print fabric
desiccated coconut
batteries
clove cigarettes
footwear
matches
tinned fish
coffee and cocoa
skirts
socks
soy products
spices
student exercise books
wooden carvings
office copy paper including:
Crown Super Copy, Pacesetter, Victory
* Indicates not all with this brand are from Indonesia
Check the label If in doubt, don't buy.
MADE IN INDONESIA
The AFL-CIO is gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation in East Timor. The Indonesian government has failed to maintain law and order and to protect the people of East Timor. There are reports of hundreds of deaths at the hand of the armed militias and hundreds of thousands of East Timorese have been forcefully relocated. Their lives are in peril unless the violence ceases immediately.
It is the responsibility of the international community to take whatever steps necessary to make this happen. The AFL-CIO is gratified that the Indonesian government has at last agreed to immediately accept an international military force to restore order in East Timor. The AFL-CIO notes the U.S. government's willingness to contribute to this effort and applauds the decision to cease all military-to-military contacts.
The American labor movement has provided our international solidarity to the Indonesian people in their struggle to bring democracy to Indonesia and to overcome the economic crisis which has beset the country over the past two years. The Indonesian government must understand that the tragedy which has unfolded in East Timor will have real consequences on the country's economic recovery and on the willingness of the international community to continue to provide much-needed assistance. We call on the Indonesian government to respect and implement the will of the people of East Timor as represented by the results of the United Nations referendum on independence.
Contact: Lane Windham 202-637-3962