"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$30 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 US$0.1 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

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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.

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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.