14 July 2004
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PROVINCE LEADER'S EAST TIMOR CONCERNS
A spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Downer has responded to the letter from Br Peter Dowling, Province Leader for Victoria and Tasmania, arguing for a fairer deal for East Timor in the matter of oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea.
The response repeats the legal arguments Australia has put forward previously in defence of its position, emphasises the benefits to East Timor under the existing arrangements (while ignoring the far greater benefits to which East Timor may potentially be entitled) and points out the positive role Australia has played in supporting East Timor’s transition to independence and its continuing financial assistance through AusAID.
The moral issue of the vast discrepancy between the standard of living enjoyed in Australia and East Timor (where most of the population lack the basic necessities of life) was ignored.
Those concerned about this issue may be interested in attending the Public Forum “East Timor Today” on Fri 13th August at the Hawthorn Town Hall, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn commencing at 8.00pm. Admission is free.
The forum will feature Dr Jose Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and East Timor’s Foreign Minister.
The evening will consist of live music, visuals, guest speakers and a question and answer forum on East Timor including its claim in the Timor Sea oil and gas dispute with Australia.
A petition is currently in circulation which asks that the Australian Government to:-
- Accept the sovereignty of East Timor over the oil and gas deposits which are closer to East Timor than Australia.
- Accept the request of the East Timorese Government to meet monthly to negotiate permanent maritime boundaries with East Timor as quickly as possible.
- Accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice on issues of maritime boundaries and accept the compulsory dispute resolution mechanisms of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 with regard to Australia’s maritime boundaries.
- Place in trust (escrow) revenues received from disputed areas immediately outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) established by the 20 May 2002 Timor Sea Treaty, for distribution between Australia and East Timor after the maritime boundary dispute between the two countries has been settled.
A copy of the petition and instructions for completing it is available for downloading at the Timor Sea Justice website.
The response repeats the legal arguments Australia has put forward previously in defence of its position, emphasises the benefits to East Timor under the existing arrangements (while ignoring the far greater benefits to which East Timor may potentially be entitled) and points out the positive role Australia has played in supporting East Timor’s transition to independence and its continuing financial assistance through AusAID.
The moral issue of the vast discrepancy between the standard of living enjoyed in Australia and East Timor (where most of the population lack the basic necessities of life) was ignored.
Those concerned about this issue may be interested in attending the Public Forum “East Timor Today” on Fri 13th August at the Hawthorn Town Hall, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn commencing at 8.00pm. Admission is free.
The forum will feature Dr Jose Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and East Timor’s Foreign Minister.
The evening will consist of live music, visuals, guest speakers and a question and answer forum on East Timor including its claim in the Timor Sea oil and gas dispute with Australia.
A petition is currently in circulation which asks that the Australian Government to:-
- Accept the sovereignty of East Timor over the oil and gas deposits which are closer to East Timor than Australia.
- Accept the request of the East Timorese Government to meet monthly to negotiate permanent maritime boundaries with East Timor as quickly as possible.
- Accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice on issues of maritime boundaries and accept the compulsory dispute resolution mechanisms of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 with regard to Australia’s maritime boundaries.
- Place in trust (escrow) revenues received from disputed areas immediately outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) established by the 20 May 2002 Timor Sea Treaty, for distribution between Australia and East Timor after the maritime boundary dispute between the two countries has been settled.
A copy of the petition and instructions for completing it is available for downloading at the Timor Sea Justice website.
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