World briefs

Israeli War on Union Aid

THE Israeli army raided and set fire to the offices of ACTU aid agency Apheda, partner the Ma'an Development Centre and Labour centre in Ramallah on March 31. Water was cut off and the fire brigade was not allowed access to fight the fire, Apheda report.

"This attack by Israeli forces is a deliberate attempt by the Israeli military to undermine positive local and international contributions to peace building," said Peter Jennings Apheda executive officer.

On February 20 Israeli bombers attacked the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions -- an act condemned by the International Transport Workers' Federation in a letter to PM Ariel Sharon.

Updates of the Palestinian struggle can be found on their website: www. electronicintifade.net/diaries/

Release War Crimes Data

The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union and the Maritime Union of Australia have called on the Federal Government of Australia to immediately release to the United Nations critical evidence on war crimes committed in East Timor.

The call follows meetings of leaders of both unions in East Timor with Chief Minister Mari Alkatari and leaders of the country's fledgling labour and solidarity movements.

Vital information on war crimes had been gathered by the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) but has been kept secret. This information shows top level Indonesian orchestration of massacres in East Timor and deliberate attempts to undermine the whole process of independence.

The Government should immediately release the DSD information on war crimes to UN investigators so those who were responsible for the massacres and the crimes against the people of East Timor are called to account in international tribunals.