Originally posted by PalynkaWhere do most oil conspiracies start and end? Check out the the next few posts and read the full versions in the links. I have edited the originals to stimulate some more debate.
Even him says it has nothing to do with the governments, so the Army going there to pressure the deal is definitely a conspiracy theory.
Check out this time-line or ‘just because you’re paranoid does’nt mean they’re still not out to get you’.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/etimor/2001/0521aust.htm
UN-Australia Deal Is Near on Timor Oil and Gas
By Michael Richardson
International Herald Tribune
May 21, 2001
Australia and the United Nations temporary administration in East Timor are reportedly near an agreement on new revenue-sharing rules covering the rich oil and gas fields between northern Australia and the former Indonesian territory. If the deal can be finalized in the next few weeks, as Australian officials hope, it will clear the way for supplying liquefied natural gas from the area to the U.S. West Coast.
This arrangement will ensure sufficient gas reserves for Phillips to go ahead with construction of a plant near Darwin, in northern Australia, to produce 4.8 million metric tons a year of liquefied natural gas for export. But the company has a July deadline for approving construction of a 500-kilometer (300-mile) pipeline to Darwin from its Bayu-Undan field in the Timor Sea zone. Phillips must also finalize key supply contracts in the next three months, including a deal worth up to 7 billion Australian dollars ($3.68 billion) to supply liquefied natural gas to El Paso Corp. El Paso has signed a letter of intent to buy the gas over 15 years starting 2005, mainly for use in California, which is facing serious energy shortages.
"The entire set of gas export contracts could be jeopardized if the treaty is not agreed in time," said Jim Godlove, the Darwin area manager for Phillips Petroleum Co., which is part of a consortium developing gas fields in the Timor Sea.
Australia's foreign minister, Alexander Downer, said recent talks with East Timorese and UN officials had made considerable progress after an "extremely difficult" phase in the negotiations. After initially proposing to split revenue on a 60-40 basis, Australia is reported to be offering East Timor an 85 percent share, much closer to the East Timorese request for 90 percent. East Timor is said to have withdrawn its demand for a redrawing of the sea-bed boundaries. Mr. Downer said it should now be possible to conclude a framework agreement for a new Timor Sea zone treaty in the next couple of months.
Originally posted by PalynkaWhen? On June 25, Fretilin reaffirmed its support of Alkatiri whcih caused Ramos-Horta to quit as Foreign Minister. One day later, he resigned.
It wasn't the majority of the Parliament, it was simply the majority of his own party.
Which ones were this? His faction of loyalist Fretilin supporters. Even the other half of his own party wanted him to resign.
So when did "half of his own party" want him to resign?
Originally posted by PalynkaTell me more
If you don't understand, I won't bother to explain.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0902237.html
Information Please® Database, © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
The first new country of the millennium, East Timor is also one of the world's poorest. Its meager infrastructure was destroyed by the Indonesian militias in 1999 and the economy, primarily made up of subsistence farming and fishing, is in shambles. East Timor's offshore gas and oil reserves promised the only real hope for lifting it out of poverty, but a dispute with Australia over the rights to the oil reserves in the East Timor Sea thwarted those efforts. The oil and gas fields lie much closer to East Timor than to Australia, but a 1989 deal between Indonesia and Australia set the maritime boundary along Australia's continental shelf, which gives it control of 85% of the sea and most of the oil. Under these terms, Australia was to receive 82% of the oil revenues and East Timor just 18%. Finally, after years of wrangling, the two countries agreed in May 2005 to defer the redrawing of the border for 50 years and to split the oil and gas revenues down the middle.
East Timor's capital, Dili, descended into violent chaos in April and May 2006, when the prime minister, Mari Alkatiri, fired 600 of the country's 1,400 soldiers army for going on strike. The fired soldiers, who had protested against low wages and alleged discrimination then began rioting, and soldiers loyal to the prime minister began battling them. Soon the violence had spread to the police force and the civilian population, causing about 130,000 to flee their homes to avoid the bloodshed. 2,500 Australian troops were called in to control the unrest. On June 26, Prime Minister Alkatiri resigned in an effort to stop the country's disintegration. Thousands protested his resignation. Alkatiri has been criticized for doing little to stem East Timor's grinding poverty and social problems, but the former independence fighter has remained immensely popular (as does President Gusmão, who had openly clashed with Alkatiri since the violence began). In July Alkatiri is replaced with José Ramos-Horta, winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize
Originally posted by no1marauderWhen they met to decide if they'll support him or not. Alkatiri's support was shaky even inside their own party, that's why a vote was needed.
When? On June 25, Fretilin reaffirmed its support of Alkatiri whcih caused Ramos-Horta to quit as Foreign Minister. One day later, he resigned.
So when did "half of his own party" want him to resign?
Originally posted by PalynkaFox seems to think this was kosher when they relayed this AAP story.
If you don't understand, I won't bother to explain.
PM pledge to honour oil deal
Rob Taylor
July 28, 2006 12:00am
Article from: AAP
A DEAL carving up billions of dollars worth of Timor Sea oil and gas will be brought before East Timor's Parliament within two weeks, Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta said yesterday.
Mr Ramos Horta added the deal would not fall victim to recent political upheaval in the country.
He said the Timor Sea treaty between Australia and East Timor struck in Sydney in January would not be torn up amid rivalries within the Parliament fuelled by recent fighting between rival security forces and ethnic gangs.
Some investors had feared that the dominant Fretilin party might hold off signing the deal, in a bid to put pressure on Mr Ramos Horta and President Xanana Gusmao not to pursue charges against ousted prime minister Mari Alkatiri.
Mr Alkatiri, a Fretilin member, stood down in June amid allegations he sanctioned the arming of hit squads to remove political opponents.
But Mr Ramos Horta said the Timor Sea treaty would be brought to Parliament soon and he would make a "robust and convincing argument" for ratification.
The pledge is good news for Woodside Petroleum, which is the Australian-based operator of the Greater Sunrise field.
It is expected to pump about $39 billion in oil revenues over 30 years, split evenly into Australian and East Timor coffers. AAP
Originally posted by PalynkaBut Australia’s premier TV network Channel Nine through its ninemsn online service gave a bit more of the AAP news article which if you start joining the dots starts to make sense of the wsws article posted by no1.
If you don't understand, I won't bother to explain.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=117796
Saturday Jul 29 01:13 AEST
Timor parliament to consider oil deal
A deal carving up billions of dollars worth of Timor Sea oil and gas will be brought before East Timor's parliament within two weeks, Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta said on Thursday.
He added that the deal would not fall victim to recent political upheaval in the country.
Ramos Horta said the Timor sea treaty between Australia and East Timor struck in Sydney in January would not be torn up amid rivalries within the parliament fuelled by recent fighting between rival security forces and ethnic gangs.
Some investors had feared that the dominant Fretilin party, which has 55 out of 88 seats in parliament, might hold off signing the deal in a bid to put pressure on Ramos Horta and President Xanana Gusmao not to pursue charges against ousted PM Mari Alkatiri.
Alkatiri, a Fretilin member, stood down in June amid allegations he sanctioned the arming of hit squads to remove political opponents.
But Ramos Horta said the Timor sea treaty would be brought to parliament soon where he would make a "robust and convincing argument" for ratification.
"I have no doubt that we will secure the majority need to ratify it, and I have the full intention of honouring this agreement and bringing it to ratification," he said.
"Timor Leste cannot be in the habit of negotiating agreements, signing them and then we change our mind and then withhold ratification.
"So we intend to do it before the end of my term, which is May 2007, but long before that, sometime this year, in the next few weeks."
Ramos Horta's pledge will be good news for Woodside Petroleum, which is the Australian-based operator of the Greater Sunrise field.
The field is expected to pump around $US30 billion ($A39.49 billion) in oil revenues over 30 years into the coffers of the Australian and East Timor governments, split evenly between both countries.
The deal was negotiated by Alkatiri, who infuriated Australia's government with his hard-nosed bargaining for a deal which will bring around $US15 billion ($A19.75 billion) to his cash-strapped economy, which is Asia's poorest.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he was pleased with Ramos Horta's commitment.
"We would obviously like East Timor to move towards ratification of the Greater Sunrise deal," he said.
"We haven't ourselves ratified it, we've said we will complete our ratification processes when East Timor ratifies it. The sooner the better."
©AAP 2006
Originally posted by PalynkaWhat was the basic accusation?
If you don't understand, I won't bother to explain.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jul2006/tim1-j27.shtml
WSWS : News & Analysis : Asia : East Timor
How Australia orchestrated “regime change” in East Timor
Part 1
By Peter Symonds
27 July 2006
In reality, what has taken place is an Australian-inspired political coup. As troops were landing, Howard’s public declaration that East Timor had not been well-governed gave the signal for a deluge of propaganda in the Australian media demonising Alkatiri as aloof, an autocrat and a Marxist. Insistent demands that he take full responsibility for the violence and resign were counterposed to high praise for Ramos-Horta and President Xanana Gusmao, both of whom backed the Australian-sponsored campaign to remove the prime minister.
Alkatiri refused to immediately cave in and Gusmao lacked the constitutional power to sack him without the support of parliament, where Alkatiri’s Fretilin party had a large majority. So a new approach was taken. The government-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) aired a “Four Corners” program on June 19, which dredged up lurid allegations from Alkatiri’s political enemies that the prime minister had approved the formation of a “hit squad” to murder his opponents.
Originally posted by PalynkaA bit of perspective, you do the math.
If you don't understand, I won't bother to explain.
http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/614/614p24.htm
Stop stealing East Timor’s oil
Jon Lamb.
A 30-second television advertisement screened on January 26 during the Australian Open tennis tournament has returned to the limelight the theft of East Timor’s oil and gas resources by PM John Howard’s Coalition government. At prime time and to a record number of viewers, the message was very clear: stop stealing East Timor’s oil and gas wealth. …….
The Howard government is taking steps to re-start the negotiations on the Greater Sunrise gas field that broke down late last year. Australian negotiators tried to induce the Timorese government to accept a once-off payment of $3 to $4 billion, about half of what East Timor is rightfully entitled to.
According to Freitas, “The negotiations broke down because Australia wants to pay East Timor a little money and have East Timor give up its claims to the resources. But East Timor wants not only money (and more than the most recent Australian offer) but also control over how the oil and gas is developed. Australia refused to even discuss that.”
Along with the diplomatic bullying and intimidating tactics applied in 2004, we can also expect that the government will attempt to keep the public’s attention away from the plight of the mass of impoverished East Timorese who are trying to survive on less than US$1 a day.
The dire economic and social conditions that most East Timorese people face are no better reflected than in the area of health care, as Melrose’s advertising campaign highlights. The majority of the population live in rural villages, often isolated and far from medical facilities or hospitals. There are impassable roads during the wet season, electricity is scant and telecommunications are next to non-existent. Curable and preventable diseases are life threatening for most in these circumstances.
Despite the best efforts of local medical staff, international volunteers and aid workers, there are simply insufficient resources to provide adequate health care to meet the needs of most East Timorese. The most recent World Bank and United Nations Development Program health statistics for children are a sobering reminder of the situation at present in East Timor:
* Around one in 10 babies die before the age of one.
* 12 in every 100 children die before reaching the age of five.
* The probability at birth of not reaching the age of 40 is 33%.
* Only 24% of births are attended by a skilled health professional.
* 42% of children under five are malnourished.
1 edit
Originally posted by kmax87Read the thread. If you have any points, make them. don't be lazy and copy-paste things, especially this one that was already mentioned.
What was the basic accusation?
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jul2006/tim1-j27.shtml
WSWS : News & Analysis : Asia : East Timor
How Australia orchestrated “regime change” in East Timor
Part 1
By Peter Symonds
27 July 2006
In reality, what has taken place is an Australian-inspired political coup. As troops were landing, Howard’s public declaration ...[text shortened]... ies that the prime minister had approved the formation of a “hit squad” to murder his opponents.
Edit - But I already know you know zero about the situation. You care only when the socialists and the greens get up in arms. Following propagandists like a good boy. Me?
I've been following East Timor with concern ever since before its independence. Hell, I've marched in support for its independence. You? You simply care when it's on the agenda.
I'm done with this thread, unless I see someone really cares. So far, only Bosse did.
Originally posted by PalynkaI told you once I told you a hundred thousand times, when oil and vast sums of money are involved, collateral damage may also mean the damage caused when one is harmed due to a lack of sovereignty which in effect reduces ones ability to leverage collateral.
If you don't understand, I won't bother to explain.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/etimor/2001/0521aust.htm
UN-Australia Deal Is Near on Timor Oil and Gas
By Michael Richardson
International Herald Tribune
May 21, 2001
..... it will clear the way for supplying liquefied natural gas from the area to the U.S. West Coast.
This arrangement will ensure sufficient gas reserves for Phillips to go ahead with construction of a plant near Darwin, in northern Australia, to produce 4.8 million metric tons a year of liquefied natural gas for export. But the company has a July deadline for approving construction of a 500-kilometer (300-mile) pipeline to Darwin from its Bayu-Undan field in the Timor Sea zone. Phillips must also finalize key supply contracts in the next three months, including a deal worth up to 7 billion Australian dollars ($3.68 billion) to supply liquefied natural gas to El Paso Corp. El Paso has signed a letter of intent to buy the gas over 15 years starting 2005, mainly for use in California, which is facing serious energy shortages.
"The entire set of gas export contracts could be jeopardized if the treaty is not agreed in time," said Jim Godlove, the Darwin area manager for Phillips Petroleum Co., which is part of a consortium developing gas fields in the Timor Sea.
Originally posted by PalynkaYour "holding your breath till you turn blue" style of debate is most refreshing.
Read the thread. If you have any points, make them. don't be lazy and copy-paste things, especially this one that was already mentioned.
Edit - But I already know you know zero about the situation. You care only when the socialists and the greens get up in arms. Following propagandists like a good boy. Me?
I've been following East Timor with concern ev ...[text shortened]... a.
I'm done with this thread, unless I see someone really cares. So far, only Bosse did.