International Solidarity Dinner

SOLIDARITY DINNER

International Solidarity to Defeat Imperialism

Indonesia – Vietnam – Timor Leste

FOR A FREE PALESTINE TODAY

An evening to commemorate past international solidarity in Australia in support of national

liberation struggles as well as advocate support for solidarity to free Palestine today. Australian

trade unions, workers, youth and other common people campaigned seriously and enthusiastically

in support of Indonesian Independence between 1945-49, and between 1965-76 in support of

Vietnamese independence. This occurred again during the 1975-1998 period in support of East

Timorese (Timor Leste's) liberation. Today the Palestine Solidarity movement is growing around the

world, but much more is needed to break ties and defeat Israel.

Voices from:

• The Indonesian Labour Movement – a message and short documentary from the Federation of Militant Trade Unions.

In person speakers:

• Timor Leste – Avelino de Coehlo, President of the Socialist Party of Timor

and

• Shamikh Badra, International Committee, Peoples Party of Palestine.

Also

• Solidarity Video Message from Vijay Prashad, Director, Tricontinental Institute.

Hosted by RED SPARK

Full Indonesian Meal
Vegetarian/Vegan dishes available

Live music

& Time to relax and chat with speakers and participants

Tickets

General Admission - $30
Concession - $20
High school students - $15
Solidarity price - $50

To bypass booking fee, please use direct bank transfer:

Account Name: Red Spark

BSB: 923100

Account Number: 31645909

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General Admission Amount: $30

Description: *(please put your name in description)*

Group bookings available

Funds raised will go for food and water for children in Gaza via the Gaza Nippers Program

ADVANCE BOOKINGS WILL HELP US ORGANISE

Chair: Yaye Wen

Yaye is a multidisciplinary designer, artist, and member of Red Spark’s Melbourne Branch Executive. Arriving in Australia from a small town in Northeast China at 17, her journey - including Communication Design studies at Monash University and revolutionary activism - solidified her commitment to art and design as tools for revolutionary work. She is particularly interested in Global South solidarity, China's development, and freedom for Palestine.

Shamikh Badra is a Palestinian researcher, activist, and PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong. He is a member of the International Relations Committee of the Palestinian People’s Party and is part of the elected leadership for the Middle East region in the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY). Shamikh co-founded the Northern Beaches Committee for Palestine in Sydney and the Gaza Nippers program, which introduces surf lifesaving to children in Gaza as a form of resilience and community care under siege. His research focuses on diplomatic resistance and settler colonialism in Palestine. He holds a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney, and has been published in State Crime Journal and in global academic collections on state violence and crisis. His work bridges theory and practice, from contributing to the intellectual foundations of Gaza’s Great March of Return to leading national unity efforts in Palestine. 

Avelino de Coelho was one of the founders of the Timorese Socialist Association in 1981. It later transformed into the Socialist Party of Timor (PST), of which he is now President. In 1995 he was appointed political-military advisor to the Xanana Gusmao, then commander in chief of the FALANTIL guerilla forces fighting dictator Suharto’s occupation forces. Later he was head of the Black Brigade, directly reporting to Xanana, carrying out political and military activity in Indonesia outside of Timor Leste during the 1990s. After being identified by Indonesian security forces as having this role and threatened with arrest, he sought asylum in the Austrian Embassy where he was located from September, 1997 until April, 1999

After the withdrawal of Indonesian occupation forces, he served on the Transitional Committee to Independence during the period of United Nations administration. He has served as Secretary of Energy and Secretary of Cabinet Affairs in two administrations. During his period as Secretary of Energy, the PST policy for free electricity for the poor was successfully implemented. The PST has remained outside the government fighting to grow as a Marxist socialist party in Timor’s unique sociological terrain.

Ilham Jimbo is Secretary of the Federation of Militant Trade Unions (SeBumi) and International Officer for the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Front (KBBI). Jimbo comes from a working-class family. He has worked for over for over twenty years as a factory worker and casual labourer. An early love for literature since childhood led him to left wing readings which ultimately deepened his understanding and class consciousness. Active involvement in the labour movement began when he organised coworkers to form a trade union in 2014. That experience became the foundation for active participation in trade unions at the federation and confederation levels up to the present. The SeBumi union has membership in 9 major cities on the island of Java. Many of the members are women working in textile, garment and shoe sectors.