A CALL OF THE PEOPLE OF WEST TIMOR–INDONESIA TO THE WORLD!

 

1997 AUSTRALIA-INDONESIA EEZ AGREEMENT ILLEGITIMATE!

 

An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Certain Seabed  Boundaries Agreement of  the Republic of Indonesia (RI) and Australia in the Timor Sea region signed  in Perth, Australia 1997 by Alexander Downer and Ali Alatas both represents Australia and Indonesia  to be declared null and void and may not be enforced by Jakarta and Canberra. Besides it has not been ratified by both parties, the agreement that contains only 11 Articles and  expressly stated in Article 11 that this Agreement will enter into force upon the exchange of  the  ratification charters.

However, what happened, Australia unilaterally used this agreement and suppressed all activities of the Indonesian traditional fishermen inhumanly and unilaterally  “Gugusan Pulau Pasir” or known by Australia as “Ashmore Reef” declared as a nature reserve of  Australia. While this EEZ agreement  was  a continuation of the Australian Fishing Zone  that has also claimed unilaterally (illegally) to near Rote Island. This Fishing Zone then, again unilaterally converted into Australia EEZ.

As a result of the invalid 1997 agreement have resulted in the people of Indonesia in West Timor being impoverished forcibly by Canberra.  Among others, thousands of traditional Indonesian fishing boats burnt down inhumanly and unlawfully by Australia. The livelihood of traditional Indonesian fishermen was severely affected  but a greater environmental impact caused by the loss of  dozens of gas and oil fields belonging to the people of West Timor when annexed  by Australia.

 

 

“GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR”-“ASHMORE REEF” NOT LEGALLY OWNED BY AUSTRALIA .

Australia  are not entitled to possession of the entire region of GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF, located in the south of Rote island. WHY! Because Australia is not able to produce  a single legal documents  according to the International Law stating  that GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF is part of Australian territory. The  Legal facts shown that the real owner of GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF, which is very rich in minerals, are the Indonesian traditional fishermen; accordingly, ​​the GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF was part of  their  house garden and livelihood for generations since at least 400 years ago, or more, before Australia proclaimed herself  as a sovereign State.

Australia only holds an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) on the rights of traditional fishermen signed in 1974 by a low level official of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and a low level  official of the Ministry of Agriculture of Australia. It’s only an MoU, not a treaty and only signed by two very low level Government officials; it is not legitimate and authorized. Australia’s  entitlement to “GUGUSAN PULASIR-ASHMORE REEF” is only based on the weak 1974 MoU.

Then in 1997, the Australian Government persuaded Indonesia to make another  treaty call EEZ and Certain Sea Bed Boundaries in the region and incorporated  “GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF”.  Still and all, “GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF”  was part of the agreement so far has not yet been ratified by both countries. More than that, this 1997 agreement may not be ratified again as a consequences of a  geopolitical conditions.  When the 1997 agreement negotiated and signed,  ​​the State of Timor-Leste was still part of the Republic of Indonesia. However, in 2000 there was  a very significant geopolitical changes in this region  with the separation  of East Timor and the 27th Province of Indonesia  became an independant sovereign state.

Again, Australia have used an unauthorized and illegitimate MoU 1974 to stop and burnt thousands of Indonesian poor traditional fishing boats in the Timor Sea just to grab West Timorese oil and gas. While on the other hand, ironically Australia  refused to use an authorized and legitimate MoU 1996 about  Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response to settle the covered up 2009 Montara Timor Sea Oil Spill Disaster. The Covered up disaster that has destroyed the livelihoods of over 100.000 poor Indonesian citizens living in coastal communities . 

Historical Fact Notes.!

Australia claimed that the Government of the United Kingdom in 1932 handed over the management  “GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF” to the Government Australia. Unauthorized and unilaterally  annexation of “GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF”  first by  Captain Samuel Ashmore a British nationality when he  was about to return to England via Australia passed  trough  “GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF” in 1811.  And in 1878 the British government unilaterally claimed it as part of the British territory  then named it ASHMORE  REEF. British Government's actions without the knowledge of the Dutch East Indies government at the time of its territory includes the “GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF”. Whereas the activity of Indonesian traditional fishermen in “GUGUSAN PULAU PASIR-ASHMORE REEF” as long that can be recorded by world’s anthropologists including Australians has been going on since 1609.