World transport unions back Indonesia protests<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE (Reuters): International transport workers called on
\nThursday for protests against air and sea traffic to and from
\nIndonesia to pressure the Indonesian government into ending the
\natrocities in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The move came as Australian dockers refused to handle cargoes
\nbound to or from Indonesia in sympathy with the East Timorese,
\nwho voted overwhelmingly for independence from Indonesia on Aug.
\n30 but have since seen the territory wracked by violence.<\/p>\n
Shipping unions in the South Pacific agreed at a meeting in
\nFiji to join in the action by Australian dockers, and the
\nInternational Transport Workers Federation called for wider
\nprotests around the globe, the Maritime Union of Australia said
\non Thursday, citing a letter from the federation's chief.<\/p>\n
In Australia, workers at the east coast port of Newcastle
\nrefused to load a cargo of Smorgon Steel Group Ltd grinding balls
\nonto the Arktis Fantasy bound for the U.S.-based Freeport McMoRan
\nmining group in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya, the
\nMaritime Union of Australia said.<\/p>\n
At Brisbane, workers pulled containers that were due to go to
\nIndonesia off two ships, including two containers which an
\nexporter, yet to be identified, chose not to send to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In Queensland's Townsville port, bans were placed on seven
\ncontainers going onto the Chekiang, including drilling equipment.<\/p>\n
Workers had yet to decide whether to take action against a
\nship due into Townsville on Thursday night carrying nickel ore
\nfrom Indonesia and another due on the weekend to export 500 tons
\nof Mt Isa copper cathode produced by MIM Ltd.<\/p>\n
In South Australia, the maritime union said all containers
\nheaded to or from Indonesia were being placed in a holding area
\nso that no other shipping would be affected.<\/p>\n
Melbourne airport, where union demonstrations prevented
\npassengers from boarding a flight to Bali on Wednesday, was quiet
\non Thursday as there were no scheduled Garuda Indonesia flights.<\/p>",
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