COMMISION FOR TIMOR GAP SET UP

COMMISSION FOR TIMOR GAP SET UP

International maritime experts have set up a 15-member commission for the Timor Gap in the Hague to demarcate the sea borders between Indonesia, Australia and Timor Leste based on international principles.

West Timor Care Foundation director Ferdi Tanoni said Thursday the

International Commission of Jurists for the Timor Gap -- waters and islands between the Timor Sea and the Pacific -- was officially set up in the Hague on Monday. The non-governmental commission's 15 members, he said, came from different countries and backgrounds and included experts on international relations, international law and maritime and human rights. "This institution will assist decision-makers in the three countries to create a fair and lasting solution to the unclear maritime borderline. We also hope the commission will help defend the rights and interests of Indonesians, especially traditional fishermen (in the area)," Tanoni said. The commission will hold its first conference in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, in June.

Held in cooperation with Kupang's Nusa Cendana University (Undana) School of Law, the conference will highlight the rights of

---West Timor people in the Timor Gap.

---The commission members include,

---Jaume Saura-Estap of Barcelona University;

---Noach of Undana; Willem Songa of Undana;

---John Tubahelan of Undana;

---Marnixon Willa of Undana;

---Alex O. Elferink of the Netherlands Institute on the Law of the Sea;

---P.J. Slot of Leiden University in the Hague;

 ---Eduard Somers of Gent University in Belgium;

---Ferdi; and head of the Timor Gap task force in West Timor,

---Chandra Motik.The commission is led by Jaume Saura-Estapa as president.

Reports have previously made allegations Timor Leste is encroaching upon Indonesia's maritime zone off the south coast of Belu regency on the Indonesian half of Timor island. The expansion of Timor Leste's maritime zone was reached in a recent agreement between Timor Leste and Australia. Critics in this country have said the signing of that agreement was part of Timor Leste's efforts to undermine Indonesia's bargaining position in the Timor Gap, which is rich in oil and gas reserves, especially the Laminaria and Bayu-Undan blocks, which are located in waters claimed by Indonesia.

Source: The Jakarta Post - www.thejakartapost.co 07/25/08 15:05.Internet. The Jakarta Post - December 22, 2006  Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

PenuliS ; Drs.Simon Arnold Julian Jacob