"Australia is one of the richest countries on earth per head in natural resources. The Australian government's budget for this year is about US$ 125 billion, but the natural gas reserves in Timor-Leste's part of the Timor Sea, which are equal to less than one fifth of Australia's natural gas resources, will bring in about US billion in government revenues over the next five decades. The amount is relatively small compared to Australia's budget, and "greed" is the only word to describe this occupation. Timor-Leste's government budget, on the other hand, is less than USA_RTICLE.1 billion per year, and losing these revenues will have a tremendous impact on our people."

(East Timorese) Movement Against the Occupation of the Timor Sea

- - -

The complete petitions can be viewed at:

http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/Actions.htm

Go there to print them off and distribute them or to sign on-line.

- - -

Summary of Sydney Timor Sea Justice Campaign petition contents:

Title: Timor Sea Boundaries, Oil & Gas Revenues

"We pray the Senate ensures the Australian Government:

1. negotiates a fair and equitable maritime boundary with Timor Leste according to current international law and the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);

2. responds to Timor Leste's request for more regular meetings to settle the maritime boundary dispute ... ;

3. returns Australia to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (IJC) and UNCLOS for the adjudication of maritime boundary;

4. commits to hold in trust (escrow) revenues received from disputed areas ... "

Timor Sea Justice Campaign - Sydney

includes

- Mary MacKillop Institute for East Timor Studies,

- AETA (Australian East Timor Association),

- APHEDA (Union Aid Abroad),

- AIDWATCH (Monitoring the Development Dollar),

- ASAP (Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific) and others ...

- - -

Summary of Melbourne NGO group petition contents:

Title: Justice in the Timor

"We ask that the Australian Government:

* Accept the sovereignty of East Timor over the oil and gas deposits which are closer to East Timor than Australia.

* Accept the request of the East Timorese Government to meet monthly to negotiate permanent maritime boundaries ...

* Accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice on issues of maritime boundaries ...

* Place in trust (escrow) revenues received from disputed areas ... "

Melbourne NGO group

includes

- Oxfam Community Aid Abroad,

- Pax Christi,

- Anglicare,

- Uniting Church Social Justice,

- Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace,

- World Vision,

- AETA (Australian East Timor Association),

- ACTU (Australian Council of Trade Unions) and others ...

- - -

The complete petitions can be viewed at:

http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/Actions.htm

Go there to print them off and distribute them or to sign on-line.

I'd always wondered why the Ausies interceded in the affairs of E. Timor to eject the Indonesian Army. Damn. There goes another ideal fantasy of justice down the moral memory hole. flash burn.