5 May 2004
AUSTRALIAN'S SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT IN EAST TIMOR
The Christian Brothers have had a presence in East Timor for a number of years. In their latest “Communidade Edmund Rice” Newsletter the community spoke of the shame and embarrassment they felt at the unjust dealings of the Australian Government with the Timorese over the issue of the Timor Gap Oil and hence their participation in the recent protest march and demonstration that concluded in front of the Australian Embassy in Dili.
Widespread concern has been expressed at Australia’s actions in:-
- Insisting on adhering to the Timor Gap treaty which was negotiated with Indonesia (some commentators suggest as a ‘payback’ for our acceptance of the Indonesian annexation of East Timor in 1975) and which delivers over 80% of the estimated $30 billion revenue from the oil to Australia whilst still leaving East Timor impoverished and dependent on foreign aid.
- in withdrawing from the International Court of Justice and the tribunal which oversees agreement of international maritime boundaries presumably because the Australian government was afraid that if it went to arbitration, the umpire would find in favour of the East Timorese;
- deliberately drawing out the continuing negotiations with East Timor. Some interpret this as a means of pressurising East Timor to agree to Australia’s demands as the Timorese are so desperately in need of money that they would agree to an unfavourable deal to at least ensure some source of revenue.
Some of the concerns expressed were reported in a recent edition of CathNews
Some further more detailed background information about the issue can be found at the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education website
I wonder why it does not occur to our leaders that it might be a better security investment to assist an impoverished nation on our doorstep to become self-sufficient than to spend $1.1 billion trying to convert decades old Seasprite helicopters into state of the art war machines as reported on the SBS “Dateline” program last week.
Widespread concern has been expressed at Australia’s actions in:-
- Insisting on adhering to the Timor Gap treaty which was negotiated with Indonesia (some commentators suggest as a ‘payback’ for our acceptance of the Indonesian annexation of East Timor in 1975) and which delivers over 80% of the estimated $30 billion revenue from the oil to Australia whilst still leaving East Timor impoverished and dependent on foreign aid.
- in withdrawing from the International Court of Justice and the tribunal which oversees agreement of international maritime boundaries presumably because the Australian government was afraid that if it went to arbitration, the umpire would find in favour of the East Timorese;
- deliberately drawing out the continuing negotiations with East Timor. Some interpret this as a means of pressurising East Timor to agree to Australia’s demands as the Timorese are so desperately in need of money that they would agree to an unfavourable deal to at least ensure some source of revenue.
Some of the concerns expressed were reported in a recent edition of CathNews
Some further more detailed background information about the issue can be found at the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education website
I wonder why it does not occur to our leaders that it might be a better security investment to assist an impoverished nation on our doorstep to become self-sufficient than to spend $1.1 billion trying to convert decades old Seasprite helicopters into state of the art war machines as reported on the SBS “Dateline” program last week.
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