Djemi Amnifu, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara – Care for West Timor Foundation (YPTB) chairman Ferdi Tanoni expressed his thanks for the Australian Greens' support of the class action lawsuit filed by Indonesian fishermen against PTTEP Australia for an oil leak at its Montara oil rig in the Timor Sea in 2009.
Ferdi said the Australian Green Party's support showed proof that the oil spill in the Timor Sea, caused by a blowout and fire on the Montara wellhead platform on Aug. 21, 2009, had made negative impacts on the social and economic life of local people in East Nusa Tenggara coastal areas.
"I'm optimistic the long struggle of seaweed farmers in the province will get full support from many parties, as that shown by the Australian Greens," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Australian Greens senator Rachel Siewert conveyed her party's full support for the class action lawsuit filed by the East Nusa Tenggara fishermen at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney on Aug. 3 in an email sent to the YPTB on Sunday.
Ferdi said Siewert had visited affected locations in West Timor and spoken with seaweed farmers and fishermen in the area. "Senator Siewert could feel what had been felt by local seaweed farmers and fishermen affected by damage from the Montara oil spill," he added.
Earlier, Ferdi called on a special team, established by the Maritime Affairs and Resources Coordinating Ministry to settle the Montara oil spill case, to immediately freeze PTTEP Australasia's operational permit and confiscate its assets in Indonesia. (ebf)