Josephite Sr Susan Connolly has expressed her dismay at the "one-sided view" being taken by the Murdoch press in particular on the sea boundaries dispute between Australia and East Timor.

Sr Connolly, of the western Sydney-based Mary MacKillop Institute of East Timorese Studies, is one of Australia's most respected advocates on behalf of the East Timorese people. She argues that an equitable distribution of access to oil and gas resources in the Timor Sea is "not a matter of charity but justice that the Timorese people receive the benefits of those portions of the resources that are their due".

In an email distributed on Wednesday, she says that the Murdoch press has presented at least three articles in the past week which are "flawed regarding facts".

"One [in The Autralian] by Dennis Shanahan on Wednesday [last week] was an opinion piece disguised as a news item," she said. "These must not go unchallenged, but unfortunately, replies to these mischievous writings are often not published."

Sr Connolly included her most recent unpublished letter in Wednesday's email (see link below).

She told the recipients that she had just returned from Timor, "where once again, I met hungry people".

"We must do all we can to ensure a fair deal for them," she said.

SOURCE

East Timor's Oil (Sr Susan Connolly/Mary MacKillop Institute of East Timorese Studies 4/8/04)

In writing of the Timor Sea Resources dispute, Christopher Pearson makes some awful gaffes, e.g. saying that “…in terms of international law, East Timor’s bargaining position is very weak.” (How to strike political crude: The Australian 31.07.04) The fact is that the Timorese position is very strong, hence Australia’s withdrawal from the very International bodies which deal with such matters. Pearson says that East Timor “has no great incentive to resolve the matter…..” and yet it is Australia which is dragging out the process, refusing to meet frequently. He seems to believe that the extent of the continental shelf remains a major factor in determining maritime boundaries, whereas that position is vastly weaker than it was in 1958 when it was the subject of a UN Convention. It’s median lines, not continental shelves nowadays.

In the light of the number of UN Conventions which Australia has swept aside in recent times, how very droll it would be to watch our Government trying to cling to this particular one when the rest of the world has moved on.

Pearson’s gratuitous comments on the East Timorese Prime Minister end in conclusions which defy both fact and logic. Far better to reflect on the stimulating observation that in approximate population and wealth potential, East Timor is to Australia as Australia is to the US. The big difference is that the East Timorese stand up to domineering neighbours. Perhaps Australia’s offended frenzy over resource sharing is a case of backbone envy.

Sister Susan Connelly

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To: wildwood@pcug.org.au
Wed, 4 Aug 2004
Subject: East Timor's Oil

Dear Friends,

The dispute over the resources of the Timor Sea is serious.  As has been pointed out many times, it is not a matter of charity but justice that the Timorese people receive the benefits of those portions of the resources that are their due.

The Murdoch press in particular is taking a one-sided view, presenting at least three articles in the past week which are flawed regarding facts.   One by Dennis Shanahan on Wednesday was an opinion piece disguised as a news item.  These must not go unchallenged, but unfortunately, replies to these mischievous writings are often not published.  In the interests of fair dealing I would like to send out any replies I send to media outlets, to ensure that at least some challenge is made.  The comments I made about Christopher Pearson's article is above, but I have not yet written regarding Paul Kelly, who, among other observations, said that John Howard "mobilised support" for  Timorese independence. (!)  ...

Very best wishes to all
Susan

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About the author:

Sister Susan Connelly,
Spokesperson on oil issues & Deputy Director of MMIETS,
Member of TSJC, Sydney

Mary MacKillop Institute of East Timorese Studies (MMIETS)
Phone: 02 9623 2847
Email: sc@mmiets.org.au

About the Mary MacKillop Institute / Institutu Mary MacKillop:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/mmiets.html

Timor Sea Justice Coalition (TSJC) - Sydney
Home: http://www.TimorSeaJustice.org