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Timor activists to face court
Date: 21 March 2000
The Parliament House 'graffiti four' will appear at the Canberra Magistrate Court on Friday 24 March to face charges of writing 'Shame Australia Shame' on the white marble walls of Parliament House last September. They were protesting against what was then happening in East Timor and the slowness or unwillingness of the Australian Government to react to the crisis there.
In their defence Jacob Greth, Robert Samsa, Mark Gwynneth and Gareth Smith will present evidence and witness to prove Canberra:
• trained the special Indonesian army unit Koppassus which were responsible for the killings in East Timor
• trained General Wiranto at the RMC Duntroon
• knew an East Timor blood bath would follow the ballot
• worked actively to prevent the insertion of peace keepers
• denied crucial intelligence to the US on Indonesian plans
• sacked those who spoke out
• procrastinated on help while Indonesian trashed East Timor
One of the defendant Gareth Smith served two months as a UN district electoral officer in East Timor. He was in Viqueque, a trouble spot where the militias were active before, during and after the 30 August ballot. He was evacuated to Darwin on Saturday 4 September hours after the announcement of the ballot.
According to Smith, Foreign Minister Downer was lying through his teeth when he said he did not know what was going to happen after the 30 August ballot.
'Even little kids knew. They would draw their hands across their throats and then roll their heads to one side like decapitated chooks,' Smith said.
The UN promised the East Timorese they would not abandon them even after the ballot but did so when the going got heavy.
Smith said Parliament House is a house of shame where decisions disastrous for the well being of the East Timorese have been repeatedly made.
'The law is going to punish us for trespassing and in my case for criminal damage as well but will not touch those responsible in Australia for complicity in genocide.'
'I was telling the truth when I wrote "shame Australia shame" on the wall at Parliament House on Friday 10 September, the day the UN pulled out most of its staff from Dili.'
Smith said he was fulfiling his promise to the people he left behind in East Timor. On the day he was evacuated he had tears streaming down his face when the East Timorese said to him: 'Please Mr Gareth do everything go get the peace keepers here.'
The graffiti four will be represented by Brian Donovan QC and Joseph Gerften who have kindly offered their services free of charge.
For further information
| Contact: |
Gareth Smith
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| Union: |
CFMEU
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| Phone: |
0403 078 410
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