Aceh, W. Papua & Indonesian dissidents to Conf.

Media Release: Saturday, March 26, 2005:

Aceh, West Papua & Indonesian dissidents defeat official obstruction to attend Sydney conference

Five delegates to an Asia-Pacific solidarity conference in Sydney this morning arrive two-day’s late and only after vigorous protests against visa denials by the Australian embassy in Jakarta. These include:

Thamrin Ananda, Secretary general, Acehnese Popular Democratis Resistance Front.

Henky S, National Student Front of West Papua.

Zelly Ariane, Secretary-General of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Joesoef Isak, secretary-general, Asia Africa Journalists Association 1962-65, political prisoner 1965-77, winner of the 2004 PEN USA Freedom to Publish Award and who is to receive a PEN Australia award from Australian writer Thomas Keneally this Thursday.

Conference delegates from Pakistan, including prominent peace movement leader Mr Farooq Tariq, also were refused visas. Conference organizer Mr Max Lane has branded this an “outrageous attempt at political censorship”. Protests outside the Australian embassy in Islamabad are beinf threatened.

To arrange interviews contact:

Max Lane 0415 678 322

Peter Boyle 0401 760 577

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