'New proof shows Australian island belong to Indonesia'

'New proof shows Australian island belong to Indonesia'

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

Indonesia has a strong case to bring its claim over an island
occupied by neighboring Australia to the International Court of
Justice, an official says.

Head of the Timor Gap working committee Ferdi Tanone told The
Jakarta Post on Thursday that a document found in the
Archeological Museum in West Australia provides a convincing
reason for Indonesia to win international recognition of
sovereignty over Ashmore Reef, which is known as Pasir (Sand)
Island by Indonesians.

"The document says traditional fishermen from Rote, Timor,
Flores and Bugis found the island in 1609 and had conducted
activities there since then," Ferdi said.

The fishermen lived in territories that now fall under the
republic's jurisdiction.

Ashmore Reef is situated 200 nautical miles south of Rote
Island in East Nusa Tenggara. It was named after a British
captain who landed on the island in 1874. It has been occupied
ever since.

Australia has used the island as a naval base to contain the
flow of illegal immigrants. A conservation park was also built
there in 1982.

Ferdi said many of the ancestors of Rote fishermen were buried
on the island.

"Australia's bargaining power is becoming weak because the
document says Indonesian fishermen made a living on the island
for more than 200 years before Britain came."

He said he had officially requested that the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, the House of Representatives commission I for
foreign affairs and commission VIII on environment, science and
technology demand that Australia agree to move to the negotiation
table regarding the island.

If Australia did not agree the case would be brought to the
international court in The Hague, Ferdi said.

Australia has dismissed talks on Indonesia's claim so far.

The Timor Gap working committee was established by the East
Nusa Tenggara administration to help Indonesia maintain its
interests in the Timor Gap and win its claim over Pasir Island.

The Indonesian court ruled in favor of Malaysia to end a long
dispute with Indonesia over Sipadan and Ligitan islands. Since
then Indonesia has stepped up measures on islands bordering
neighboring countries to keep what it calls its sovereignty over
the islands intact.

Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands, most of them
inhabited.