By Nick Everett
BRISBANE — The oil company, Petroz N.L. in conjunction with BHP Petroleum, are about to start drilling for oil in the Timor Gap. While Petroz, which is based here, is not new to exploration in the Timor Sea, this latest venture will be the first to exploit the oil reserves of the occupied nation of East Timor, made possible by Australia's signing of the Timor Gap treaty.
In 1989, Foreign Affairs ministers Gareth Evans and Ali Alatas of Indonesia, agreed that Australian companies could drill for oil and gas in the Timor Gap. The treaty amounts to the annexation of some 61,000 square kilometres of seabed which has been in dispute since Indonesia's invasion of East Timor in 1975.
The United Nations has never recognised Indonesia's claim to East Timor. However the Australian government's support of Indonesia's illegal occupation and its signing of the Timor Gap treaty ensures a division of the spoils between the two countries.
Australian oil companies are poised to reap mega profits from this violation of international law; seismic survey work has indicated that the Timor seabed may contain as much as 7 billion barrels of oil.
According to the Petroz prospectus, the company's interests in this region cover over 13,000 square kilometres or approximately 20% of the 55,000 square kilometres of seismic operations conducted in this area.
Petroz Chairperson Greg Swindon says this project represents "a major asset for the company. The prospects which this work has delineated are large, some of them are very large, with potential for up to 1000 million barrels of oil".
East Timor solidarity activists have initiated a campaign against Petroz and its partner BHP. In part, this involves two court cases which challenge the legality of the Timor Gap treaty.
In February 1991, Portugal instituted proceedings at the International Court of Justice against Australia claiming that the Timor Gap treaty is in violation of international law. Because Indonesia does not accept ICJ jurisdiction, Australia is the sole defendant.
The Australian government looks set to prolong this case and, even if it is defeated, there is a possibility Australia could disregard the ICJ's ruling and pay whatever fines are imposed out of royalties derived from enormous oil company profits.
In June 1993, Jose Ramos Horta, Jose Gusmao and Abel Guterres brought legal action to the High Court of Australia, declaring that the Australian government's signing of the Timor Gap treaty was invalid.
The challenge is against the Commonwealth of Australia, which, they argue, does not have the power to enact legislation which is contrary to international law. The case is due to be heard later this year.
Petroz is involved in the exploration of two oil wells where drilling is expected to commence this year. One of these, ZOCA 91-12, is being operated by BHP, the major permit holder, while ZOCA 91-08 is being operated by Petroz together with a number of smaller Australian oil companies.
AKSI — Indonesia Solidarity Action member, Jason McLeod, has been meeting with the company. He told Green Left that "while Petroz is well aware of the atrocities carried out by the Suharto regime, they refuse to acknowledge that their activities in the Timor Gap violate international law.
"We will be running a campaign against Petroz and we call on other supporters of East Timor around the country to join us in a campaign to get Australian oil companies out of the Timor Gap."
A weekly picket has begun outside the head office of Petroz. Protesters plan to continue these pickets until October 15, a national day of action to protest Australian involvement in the Timor Gap. For more information contact Nick on 254 0565 or Jason on 846 2269.