NT: Aust accused of bullying East Timor over oil revenue

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2004
NT: Aust accused of bullying East Timor over oil revenue

Australia has been accused of bullying impoverished East Timor.

The accusation -- from a Catholic social justice group -- comes as bilateral talks
begin to establish a permanent maritime boundary in the oil-rich Timor Sea.

The Catholic Commission for Justice Development and Peace says the Australian government
is making a greedy grab for the Timor Sea oil revenue to the detriment of East Timor.

The drawing of the boundary will divide up control of the estimated $30 billion in
royalties from Timor Sea oil and gas deposits.

East Timor wants the new seabed boundary no further away than halfway between the two
countries - but Australia would lose potentially billions of dollars in royalties.

Talks on the boundary started today in the East Timorese capital, Dili.

AAP RTV km/gjr/rp

KEYWORD: TIMOR BOUNDARY (DARWIN)

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