Vannessa Hearman, Melbourne
The Timor Sea Justice Campaign is set to broadcast its next series of television advertisements to coincide with Anzac Day on April 25. The group has chosen this time to focus on Australian soldiers and their relationship with East Timor. Those who feature include Interfet veteran and ex-Australian army major Chip Henriss-Anderssen and World War II veteran Paddy Kenneally, who call on the Australian government to play it fair on oil and gas resources in the Timor Sea.
According to Henriss-Anderssen, "When we went to East Timor we felt we were going to help our neighbours. In many ways we did and I think Australian soldiers are proud of our work there. Unfortunately, the good will of we who served and ordinary Australians who supported us has now been overshadowed by the greed that seems to be driving the actions of our government."
Businessman Ian Melrose's last set of ads in March were refused by SBS and Channel 7 due to objections over the line "Stealing from a Third World country kills their children".
Melrose stands by his claim, pointing out that "While East Timorese children are dying of preventable diseases, the Australian government has stolen $1 million from East Timor every single day since 1999". Melrose was first motivated to join the campaign when he read a newspaper article describing a Timorese girl who died from being choked by round worms, which could have been prevented by a cheap tablet.
The ads will coincide with the next round of talks in Dili between Australia and East Timor, which will commence on April 26. Supporters of justice in the Timor Sea will rally outside the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on that day in Melbourne and deliver postcards addressed to PM John Howard, demanding that Australia sign a maritime boundary agreement with East Timor that is based on international law.
For more information about the dispute and how you can help the campaign, visit < http://www.timorseajustice .org or phone 0422 545A HREF="mailto:763"><763>.
From Green Left Weekly, April 20, 2005.
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