TIMOR SEA JUSTICE CAMPAIGN
Media Release - Embargoed until: 6am, Wednesday, 22 June 2005.
www.timorseajustice.org

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The proposed provisional resource sharing deal, yet to be signed or ratified, will be superseded by permanent maritime boundaries once the two governments agree on where to draw permanent maritime boundaries - a process which is currently being hampered by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.

For more information about the event click here.

To organise interviews with the speakers, please contact:
Tom Clarke, 0422 545 763, tom@timorseajustice.org
Chip Henriss-Anderssen, 0437 829 825, chip@timorseajustice.org

www.timorseajustice.org

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