Huge crowds are expected at protests this week outside Australia's embassy in Dili, East Timor to demand that the Australian Government establish permanent and fair maritime boundaries in the Timor Sea.
Protests will also be held in solidarity this week in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Jakarta, Manila and Kuala Lumpur to mark the anniversary of when Australia withdrew its recognition of the maritime boundary jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.
The Timorese activist campaign the 'Movement Against the Occupation of the Timor Sea' (MKOTT) organised protests last month which attracted several thousand people. MKOTT organiser Tomas Freitas said he is expecting much larger crowds of at least 10,000 people this week as prominent political figures such as Xanana Gusmao have swung their support behind the protests and called for an ongoing active campaign to win permanent maritime boundaries.
"Timor Leste must stand firm against Australia. Let us come together with the veterans and for all the people to stand firm and raise one voice to demand that Australia, according to international law, Canberra must agree to talk to Timor Leste on the delimitation of maritime boundaries," Mr Gusmao said at a conference in Dili last week.
Mr Freitas said the week's demonstrations are shaping up as an all out mobilisation from across the political spectrum. "This is a struggle increasingly seen by Timorese people as necessary to complete our independence from foreign domination," said Mr Freitas.
The Timor Sea Justice Campaign's spokesperson in Melbourne, Tom Clarke, said the Australian Government needs to resubmit to the ICJ and commit to establishing permanent maritime boundaries with East Timor in accordance with international law.
"Successive Australian Governments have pilfered millions of dollars worth of oil and gas resources from East Timor. Enough of the dodgy deals and underhanded tactics, it's time to draw a line and establish permanent boundaries once and for all," said Mr Clarke.
Media Contacts:
- MKOTT Media Comment re protests in Dili: Tomas Freitas +670-77539038
- TSJC Comments re Melbourne protest: Tom Clarke 0422 545 763
- Comments on international solidarity protests in Asia: Max Lane via maxlane2014@gmail.com