East Timor film & discussion July 14

East Timor film & discussion July 14
Eric Piotrowski
July/August 1998

East Timor is a small island 200 miles north of Australia, a former Portugese colony. In 1975, with financial, political, and military support from the United States, Indonesia invaded East Timor and proceeded to initiate a wide-scale slaughter of the people. By the 1990s, one third of the population--roughly 200,000 people--had been massacred from military violence and enforced starvation. During the 1980s, our government supplied 90% of the weapons used. In 1991, the world community was shocked by footage of a massacre at Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili, the capital of East Timor; Washington's response was to continue the flow of economic aid and weapons.

On Tuesday, July 14, at 8:00 p.m., there will be an information session at the Civic Media Center, 1021 W. University Ave., with a showing of the documentary film "In Cold Blood: Massacre at East Timor," which chronicles the history of East Timor and contains footage of the '91 massacre.

We will also discuss the possible formation of a local chapter of the East Timor Action Network, a nationwide network of activists working to change US policy toward East Timor. Recent developments in Indonesia have given Timorese activists renewed hope, but pressure must be put on our leaders to bring about a just and fair solution. Come learn more and join the fight. For more information, call 374-6816.