Maritime experts to convene in Bali

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

Maritime law experts are scheduled to attend a conference in Nusa Dua, Bali, in October to discuss cooperation between Indonesia and Australia regarding the Timor Sea and the Pasir and Cartier Islands.

The main aim of the conference will be for experts and traditional fishermen to present their recommendations on amendments to an existing agreement between the two countries.

Indonesian fishermen are frequently arrested and detained by the Australian Navy while fishing in the Timor Sea and Pasir and Cartier Islands area.

Yetti Haning of the International Association of Jurists for Maritime Delimitation in the Timor Sea and Pacific Rim said in a press statement the conference will focus on past cooperation agreements between Indonesia and Australia and the rights of Indonesian fishermen in the area.

"The conference will also discuss sea boundaries between Indonesia, Australia and East Timor based on international maritime law," Haning said.

Ferdi Tanoni, another member of the association, praised the decision to organize the event.

"The central government should not just focus on cooperation agreements between Indonesia and Singapore, but also with Australia," Tanoni said in Kupang over the weekend.

"The cooperation agreement between Indonesia and Australia, which judicially causes Indonesia to suffer losses, has to be brought in line with international maritime law based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1980," Tanoni said.

Tanoni, who is also chairman of the Timor Gap Working Group, said Australia's claim of ownership over the Pasir Island chain in 1974 has resulted in thousands of Indonesian fishermen being arrested and jailed in Australia.

"Our dignity as a nation has been damaged. Aside from losing our rights in the Timor sea and Pasir and Cartier islands area, Indonesian fishermen have fallen victim to this agreement," he said.

"Therefore it is hoped at this conference we can show the world who the real owner of the area is," Tanoni said.