would no longer accept the rulings of the International Court of
Justice or the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
[UNCLOS]. UNCLOS determines that the sea boundaries between
countries less than 400 nautical miles apart [which is the case
between Timor-Leste and Australia] should be a median line
drawn
between the two countries. Under this arrangement the Greater
Sunrise and Bayu-Undan oil fields are on the East Timorese side and
thus under international law would be likely to be within East
Timorese waters.
Why does the
Timor Gap Exist?
In 1972, Indonesia and Australia agreed on a sea boundary
between their two countries. The boundary followed the edge of the
continental shelf, leaving it closer to Indonesia than Australia.
Indonesia took control of East Timor in1975 and began negotiations
with Australia regarding the gap in the boundary line. These
negotiations resulted in the Timor Gap Treaty.
The Timor Gap
Treaty
Indonesia and Australia agreed to create a Zone of Cooperation
in the Timor Gap, as they couldnt agree on set boundary line.
They agreed to share the resources [oil and gas] within this
Zone of Cooperation.
What happened when Timor-Leste became
independent?
In March 2002, just before Timor-Leste became independent,
Australia announced it
The Timor Sea Agreement
In March 2003, Australia and Timor-Leste signed the Timor Sea
Agreement specifying a Joint Petro-leum Development Area [JPDA].
Under the agree-ment, any money made from the development of oil
and gas fields within the
area is to be split, with 90% going to Timor-Leste and 10% to
Australia. On the surface this looks like Timor-Leste is getting a
good deal from the agreement. However the majority of oil and gas
found in the Timor
Gap is outside this agree-ment in waters that are currently
owned by Austra-lia.
Map Source: La'o Hamutuk, The East Timor Insti-
tute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis.
Today, with the ending of occupation by Indonesia, we come
up
against the wrongful seizure of our natural resources by
Australia
Xanana Gusmao, President of East Timor, April 2004.
For more information, visit
the following sites:
www.etan.org
www.timorseajustice.org
Timor Gap Oil
Who does it belong to?
I B V M J U S T I C E C O M M I T T E E
Be seekers of truth
and doers of justice.
Mary Ward
http://www.etan.org/lh
At the same time as signing the Timor Sea Agreement, Australia
and Indonesia signed an International Utilization Agreement [IUA]
for the Greater Sunrise Oilfield. 20% of this Greater Sunrise
Oilfield lies within the JPDA while 80% is within Australian
waters.
Under the revenue arrangements of this agreement, the East
Timorese get only 18% of the total revenue from this oilfield
while
Australia currently takes two thirds of the revenue from all of
the known oil and gas deposits in the East Timor Sea.
Under international law most, if not all, these resources would
belong to Timor-Leste.
The Australian Government is reaping over $ 1 million per day
from oil and gas in a disputed area of the Timor Sea that is twice
as close to Timor-Leste as it is to Australia.
Foreign Affairs] and Kevin Rudd [Shadow Minister of Foreign
Affairs].
Send it to : Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, 2600. You could
include these points:
As an Australian citizen, you are concerned that Australia could
be
Sign the attached petition and encourage other to do so.
Raise general community awareness of this issue by discussing it
with 5 other people.
Write a letter and send it to your local MP, Alexander Downer
[Minister of
cheating our closest neighbour - a poor country with few
resources - out of revenue from oil and gas fields - which is
desperately needed to rebuild their country.
Remind the government that, under international maritime law,
there is a good chance that
What does this mean for Timor- Leste?
The International Utilization Agreement
What can we do?
10% of children are likely to die before the age of 5
Timor-Leste is facing a budget deficit of US $30 million for the
next four years and, only two years after achieving independence,
is at risk of becoming a failed state.
Its economic well being rests on its bid for a major
redistribution of royalties from the Timor Sea oil and gas fields
and the level of those revenues will determine what kind of
resources it can provide for its people [World Bank].
TimorLeste is one of the worlds poorest nations. A recent report
by Oxfam highlights the mounting poverty of TimorLeste where:
less than half the adult population can read and write
41% live below the poverty line
Page 2
The vast oil and gas reserves of the Timor Sea provide
Timor-Leste with a window of opportunity for providing for its
people and future generations
Oxfam Report
It is in Australias interests to do all it can to reduce the
absolute poverty and to promote economic, social and political
stability for Timor-Leste.
the oil and gas fields in the Timor Sea belong to Timor-Leste.
Urge the government to negotiate a boundary based on international
law and the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
[UNCLOS] with Timor-Leste as soon as possible
Flag of Timor-Leste
