Monday, March 21, 2016

Sydney: Demonstration to Restore East Timor Maritime Boundaries

When: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Wednesday 23 March 2016

Where:  Choose the most convenient place for you…..

Action 1… 12:15 Gather at Archibald Fountain to receive banners (4). They are 4m long and 75 cm deep, needing a group to hold them. Those present then split up and stand at the four corners of Hyde Park, holding the banners to be seen by those passing in vehicles or on foot.

Action 2…. One banner outside Greenway Plaza, North Sydney. Group to decide which corner of the large intersection of Pacific Highway to stand at.

Action 3…. One banner outside DFAT Offices in Angel Place.

We need at least 8 people with each banner.

What we want:

  • Resubmit to the maritime boundary jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice;
  • Immediately open negotiations for a permanent maritime boundaries based on the median line principle;
  • Return all revenues taken unilaterally from the Timorese side of the halfway line


BACKGROUND

In March 2002, two months before the declaration of independence in East Timor, the Australian Government withdrew from the Maritime boundary jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. The result was that the Timor Leste leadership had limited options in negotiating its maritime boundaries with Australia prior independence. 

During subsequent negotiations regarding boundaries and allocation of oil and gas revenues, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, under the guise of an Australian Aid Program, fitted surveillance devices inside the Timorese cabinet room and gained a negotiating advantage.

Successive Timor Leste governments have long objected to the 2006 Certain Maritime Boundary Treaty (CMATS). The treaty denies the sovereign right of the government of Timor Leste to settle maritime boundaries with Australia – one of its nearest neighbours – until 2050.

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