BACK
DOOR Newsletter on East Timor home
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| search "This [Greater Sunrise gas field]
deal is only a small part of a
much bigger issue. The deal may allow for the commercial development of
the Greater Sunrise field, but it does not in anyway address East
Timor's rights as a sovereign nation to have permanent maritime
boundaries, nor does it adequately reflect East Timor's rightful
financial entitlements, ... Our Foreign Minister, Alexander
Downer should just put his head down and get the job done. If drawing a
line halfway between two coastlines is too hard for him or his
department, they should just take the matter to the International Court
of Justice and let the independent umpire settle the dispute once and
for all" Tom Clarke, spokesperson, Timor Sea
Justice
Campaign
TIMOR SEA JUSTICE CAMPAIGN
Media Release - Embargoed until: 6am, Wednesday, 22 June
2005.
PUBLIC MEETING TO HIGHLIGHT
DOWNER'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN TIMOR SEA
With East Timor and Australia finalising a temporary resource sharing
agreement over the Greater Sunrise gas field, located 120km from East
Timor's coast, the Timor Sea Justice Campaign is holding a large public
meeting to reinvigorate the push for permanent maritime boundaries.
Timor Sea Justice Campaign spokesperson, Tom Clarke, said the Thursday
night public meeting at Collingwood Town Hall in Melbourne, was a
chance for the public to learn of the shortfalls of the proposed
agreement.
"This deal is only a small part of a much bigger issue. The deal may
allow for the commercial development of the Greater Sunrise field, but
it does not in anyway address East Timor's rights as a sovereign nation
to have permanent maritime boundaries, nor does it adequately reflect
East Timor's rightful financial entitlements," Mr Clarke said.
The proposed provisional resource sharing deal, yet to be signed or
ratified, will be superseded by permanent maritime boundaries once the
two governments agree on where to draw permanent maritime boundaries -
a process which is currently being hampered by the Australian
Government's refusal to abide by International Law. Likewise, the 2002
Timor Sea Treaty between Australia and East Timor will become redundant
with the establishments of permanent boundaries.
The public meeting will include guest speaker, Tomas Freitas, from the Dili-based MKOTT (Movement Against
the Occupation of the Timor Sea) as well as Australian
businessperson Ian Melrose who
funded a $2 million advertising campaign about the gas and oil dispute.
"This deal on Greater Sunrise is an improvement on the previous offer,
but only a permanent maritime boundary will completely resolve the
issue. Not only would East Timor receive its full entitlements, but a
permanent maritime boundary would give Australian companies operating
in the area, the legal and fiscal certainty to confidently go about
their business," Mr Melrose said.
Hosted by Rod Quantock, the public meeting will feature entertainment
from David Bridie and the Dili Allstars as well as a satellite address
from Alexander Downer (aka comedian John Clarke).
While the deal on Greater Sunrise falls well short of East Timor's
legal entitlements under International Law, the Timor Sea Justice
Campaign claims the 50 per cent split of Government royalties is a
promising improvement on the miserly 18 per cent previously offered to
East Timor. The campaign is also urging the Australian Government to
keep the momentum going and commit to promptly negotiating permanent
maritime boundaries.
"Our Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer should just put his head down
and get the job done. If drawing a line halfway between two coastlines
is too hard for him or his department, they should just take the matter
to the International Court of Justice and let the independent umpire
settle the dispute once and for all," Mr Clarke said.
As well as a questions and answers
session, and entertainment from:
David Bridie & The Dili All Stars + satellite interview with Alexander Downer (aka John Clarke)
Also featuring: 'Friends of Baucau friendship city
group's Tea and Coffee Australia-East Timor Association
bookstore East Timor Women's Association stall Friends of the Earth food stall
Info on Guest Speaker Tomas Freitas'
Organisation:
By
subscribing to the Melbourne Timor
Sea Justice Campaign announcements list you will receive regular press
releases relating to the
progress of the Timor Sea Talks. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to:
announce-subscribe@timorseajustice.org
Email Australia's Prime Minister
Howard - Tell
the Australian Government to Stop Stealing East
Timor's Resources and East Timor's Future -
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