/Glas Slovenije/ - Ko se je osamosvajala Slovenija, smo bili avstralski Slovenci še kako hvaležni pripadnikom drugih narodov, ki so z nami vštric demonstrirali po avstralskih ulicah, predvsem proti takratnim postopkom JLA in nosili tran-sparente za demokratično in svobodno Slovenijo.
Zdaj pomaga nekaj Slovencev Timorčanom:
Predsednik Avstralske slovenske konference Cvetko Falež iz Canberre in Sibila Gerden iz Mildure sta pisala pismo Aleksandru Downerju za večjo podporo Vzhodnemu Timorju. David Gerden, prav tako iz Mildure, je odpeljal na East Timor Human Rights Centre tri velike zaboje zdravil in šolskih knjig, ki bodo poslane na ogroženo območje Timorja. Tajnica ASK Jožica Gerden je izročila patru Ephremu, ki je spremljal Nobelovega nagrajenca škofa Belo, ob njihovem obisku v Melbourneu, v imenu ASK in slovenske skupnosti v Avstraliji, darilno pismo.
Povrhu vsega je Sibila Gerden, ki je pred časom kot učiteljica poučevala na East Timorju, pisala pismo v Weekend Australian (13.3.1999), pod naslovom

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Timor can wait no longer
"The famine in East Timor will get worse if the Australian Government does not intervene. A transport blocade in Dili means rice cannot be unloaded - the Indonesians are holding food supplies to ransom. There has been a mass exodus of non Timorese people, especially doctors and teachers, leaving the Timorese exposed to further interrogation, torture and disease. Commercial airlines will cease operation in April. This will prevent outside aid reaching the Timorese people - just what Jakarta wants. Doesn’t this create an urgent need for an international presence in Timor? The proposed Australian consulate in Dili is needed more than ever. Even the most cold-hearted isolationists can no longer ignore the suffering in Timor. We have an obligation to our nearest neighbours - human rights abuses have gone too far. We should not stand back and witness the magnitude of the atrocities taking place."
Sibila Gerden
Willoughby, NSW