APSN | Protest in Melbourne: Stand in solidarity with the East Timorese demanding their rights

Home > South-East Asia >> East Timor

Protest in Melbourne: Stand in solidarity with the East Timorese demanding their rights

Timor Sea Justice Campaign News Release - February 18, 2016

Tanya Plibersek outlines ALP's new policy to establish permanent maritime boundaries with East Timor – Timor Sea Justice Campaign Media Release. February 10, 2016
Timor Leste prime minister files defamation suit against journalist – Southeast Asian Press Alliance. February 8, 2016
40 years after East Timor first declared independence – its journey to full sovereignty continues – Timor Sea Justice Campaign (TSJC) Media Release. November 27, 2015
Forty years on: Balibo victims remembered with scholarship – International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Statement . October 16, 2015
Timor to drop ASIO raid case but will recommence original spy proceedings to nullify oil treaty – Timor Sea Justice Campaign Media Release. June 7, 2015

The Timor Sea Justice Campaign will hold a protest action in Melbourne at 12:30pm on Thursday 24 March outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in solidarity with a series of protests taking place outside Australia's embassy in Dili, East Timor.

Timor Sea Justice Campaigner, Sam King, said the protest would mark the anniversary of when the Australian Government withdrew its recognition of the maritime boundary jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.

"Telling East Timor just two months before independence that Australia will not be bound by international law was a bullying tactic. It's still obvious to everyone that Australia is ripping off a poor country. The Timorese just want what is theirs. What's the hold up? How many times does the Timorese Government have to ask Australia to come to the negotiating table?" said Mr King

According to international law the maritime boundaries between Australia and East Timor should be along the halfway line, but the Australian Government refuses to acknowledge this.

Just last week the Timorese Government wrote another letter to the Australian Government. It urged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to enter fresh negotiations about establishing permanent and equitable maritime boundaries.

By refusing to establish maritime boundaries the Australian Government is short-changing East Timor out of billions of dollars in oil and gas revenue.

"Australia is ripping-off one of the poorest nations in Asia. It's time we stand in solidarity with East Timor and demand that our own government resubmits to the International Court of Justice and allows East Timor to benefit from its own natural resources," said Mr King.

The March 24 international protest demands the Australian government:

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

RSVP via the TSJC's Facebook Event Page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/459068937622907/

Podcast: TSJC interview on RRR

The TSJC's Tom Clarke recently appeared on RRR FM's spoke program. You can listen here: http://www.dukestmedia.com/CampaignProcess.aspx?A=Link&VID=29550224&KID=253354&LID=1292097

Source: http://www.timorseajustice.com/timor-sea-justice-campaign-news/protest-in-melbourne-stand-in-solidarity-with-the-east-timorese-demanding-their-rights.