Downer now pushing for early Timor Gap deal

Bob Briton

Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is now in a hurry 
to conclude an agreement with the government of East Timor over 
the maritime boundary between the two countries. At stake is 
control of oil and gas reserves estimated to be worth $42.74 
billion. Even though all three major oil and gas fields lie on 
the East Timor side of the midway point between the coasts of the 
two countries — the internationally recognised method used to 
define a maritime boundary — it is estimated that the struggling 
nation will earn only $5.7 billion under present 
arrangements.

While Downer had previously said that a final agreement on the 
maritime boundary and revenue sharing might be decades away, he 
is now saying that an accord might be in place by Christmas. 
While much is being made of the new "creative" atmosphere in 
discussions being held with East Timorese negotiators, it is more 
likely that pressure from the oil industry is responsible for the 
Foreign Minister's sunnier disposition. Woodside Petroleum has 
reportedly been pressuring parties to finalise the legal 
situation or risk stalling its $6 billion Greater Sunrise 
project.

East Timor's Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta and his Australian 
counterpart agreed last month to fast-track discussions. 
Negotiators met in Darwin last week and in Canberra the week 
before. Downer could not resist trying to portray the Australian 
side as victims of a bullying effort on the part of the East 
Timorese. He claimed that East Timor had "run a bit of a campaign 
against us publicly and a lot of abuse has come flying our way. 
But, you know, that's not really made any difference. We've got 
to do the right thing, not just by East Timor but by Australia."

While comments from East Timor's PM Mari Alkatiri's about the 
very real bullying by Australian officials were widely reported, 
the claim of a "campaign" is rich. Our impoverished neighbour 
simply does not have the funds to mount an effective public 
relations campaign about the theft of its natural resources.

The fact is that much of the moral pressure being applied on this 
issue comes from Australians ashamed of the behaviour of 
successive Australian governments. A campaign by grassroots 
organisations in support of East Timor's independence and its 
rights to its resources has been carried on for over a quarter of 
a century.

Demonstrations against the Howard Government's stance were held 
during the recent discussions in Canberra. A TV advertising 
campaign favouring a more just distribution of the oil wealth was 
funded by wealthy WA accountant Ian Melrose. A 30-second ad was 
screened and a one-minute message is coming. Father Frank 
Brennan, founder of the Jesuit Social Justice Centre has warned 
the East Timorese about losing their country's sovereignty in the 
deal currently under discussion.

Recently two former peacekeepers went public with their views on 
Australia's treatment of East Timor. Former Australian Federal 
Police officer Wayne Sievers told the media that the maritime 
boundary dispute was about nothing other than the theft of East 
Timor's oil. Former army major Chip Henriss-Anderssen said, 
"We're a country that's developed and on our feet. Timor is a 
country that's really struggling — these people have nothing."

The Australia East Timor Friendship Association and the Australia 
West Papua Association are holding an open air forum outside 
Downer's Adelaide office — at the Commonwealth Bank building 100 
King William St — this Friday at 12.30PM. East Timor will be an 
inevitable topic of discussion for the candidates for Downer's 
seat of Mayo.

For his part, Opposition Leader Mark Latham said that he would 
re-open boundary discussions to ensure a fairer deal for the East 
Timorese. The Greens have consistently backed calls for an 
internationally arbitrated readjustment of the sea boundaries 
between the two countries.