NTT demands compensations for Timor Gap, Pasir Island
NTT demands compensations for Timor Gap, Pasir Island
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
Citizens of East Nusa Tenggara have demanded that Australia
reopen discussions with Indonesia on the Timor Gap and Ashmore
Reef disputes. Otherwise, the neighboring country should
compensate the province with US$25 million per year.
These payments should continue for 50 years if Australia
refused to discuss the problem, NTT's working committee (Pokja)
spokesman said here on Tuesday. The committee is responsible for
the management of the Timor Gap and Ashmore Reef (known as Pasir
Island in Indonesia) disputes.
"The Australian government keeps refusing to talk about the
Timor Gap and Pasir island problems. This disadvantages East Nusa
Tenggara because oil and gas continues to be exploited from the
Timor Gap," Working Group chairman Ferdi Tanone said.
"That's why Australia should compensate people in the
province. The Timor Gap and Pasir island is their legacy," he
added.
Melkianus Adoe, chairman of the East Nusa Tenggara legislative
council''s Commission A, supported the demand.
Melkianus and Ferdi made the statements after meeting with
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A. Tallo in the provincial
capital of Kupang to push for compensation.
The working committee also challenged the diplomatic note
signed by the Australian and Indonesian governments on July 1,
2000, which enables Canberra and East Timor to exploit oil and
gas from the Timor Gap.
The agreement was reached after East Timor broke away from
Indonesia in 1999.
"The diplomatic note has extremely disadvantaged Indonesia,"
Ferdi said.
Earlier last week, he said Indonesia has a strong case to
present sovereignty over Pasir island, (which is occupied by
Australia), to the International Court of Justice.
Ferdi said a document found in the Archeological Museum of
Western Australia provides convincing evidence for Indonesia's
claim over the island.
"The document says traditional fishermen from Rote, Timor,
Flores and Bugis found the island in 1609 and have conducted
activities there ever since," he added.
Pasir island is situated 200 nautical miles south of Rote
Island in East Nusa Tenggara. It was named Ashmore Reef after a
British captain who landed on the island in 1874.
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 Rote fisherman's ancestors were buried
on the island.
"Australia's bargaining power is becoming weak because the
document shows Indonesian fishermen made a living on the island
for more than 200 years before the British arrived."