About 10,000 Timorese people protested outside the Australian embassy in Dili on Tuesday over the Australian government’s refusal to negotiate on the establishment of a permanent maritime boundary in the oil-rich Timor sea.
The demonstration was the first of two-day protest action planned in Dili and also coincides with a week-long international campaign, including protests in Australia and Indonesia.
The president of the Movement Against the Occupation of Timor Sea (MKOTT), Juvinal Diaz, said Timorese people would continue to demand a fair deal.
“Many people died demanding their sovereignty and identity [during Indonesian occupation] and now we are [again] struggling to save our sovereignty and our rights,” said Diaz in front of the Australian Embassy in Fatuhada, Dili.
He said the young generation should not forget the sacrifices made by former resistance fighters during occupation.
He said Australia had initially tried to justify its position by arguing that it reached an agreement with Indonesia in 1972 to define maritime boundaries in the region.
He added that an Australian oil company discovered the Greater Sunrise oilfield in 1974, making it easy for them to exploit Timor’s wealth, he said, adding that Australia also supported the Indonesian invasion to Timor which led to more than 200,000 deaths.
When Timor-Leste gained its independence from Indonesia, Diaz said the Australian government had pressured Timor-Leste to recognize Australia’s rights to the Elang Kaka Tua, Bayu Undan and Greater Sunrise oilfields and that Timor-Leste also subsequently lost its rights to the Laminaria, Corallina and Buffalo oilfields, which were disputed by both countries.
Dili resident Mariano Asanami Sabino said Timorese were not angry with the Australian government, but wanted to see the government recognize the rights of Timor-Leste.
“We are not insulting the Australian government, but we just ask them to give us back our rights,” said Sabino.
Australian representative retired Melbourne Bishop Hilton Deakin said he was disappointed with the Australian government’s position.
“They manipulated Timor-Leste because they wanted to take Timor’s gas and oil and it’s time for us to stop it,” said Bishop Deakin.
He acknowledged that the history of maritime boundaries was a complicated issue.
He said many Australian supported Timorese demands for a permanent maritime boundary.
He also called on the Australian government to enter in to negotiations with Timor so that a fair and just agreement could be reached.
