International Conference on Indonesia’s Traditional Fishing Rights

Press Release

The International Association of Jurists for Maritime Delimitation in Timor Sea and in the Pacific Rim (IAJ-TGAP) based in The Hague, The Netherlands is happy to announce the convocation of a three-day International Conference on Indonesia’s Traditional Fishing Rights in Ashmore Reef & Cartier Islands (Gugusan Pulau Pasir) and Maritime Boundaries among Indonesia, Timor Leste and Australia in Timor Sea.

This is being done as part of the fulfilment of IAJ-TGAP goals:

· To ensure the maritime borderlines of the sovereign nations in the conflict area meets international standards.

· To guide the parties toward a peaceful and sustainable solution over maritime disputes.

· To ensure the environmental sustainability in the conflict area is protected.

Experts on International Law, Law of the Sea, Maritime Boundaries and Human Rights from The Netherlands, Indonesia, Australia, Timor Leste, United Kingdom, USA, Belgium, Netherlands and some other countries, Indigenous fishermen from Roti Island, representatives of NGOs, Civil Society Groups and Governmental agencies have been invited to participate in this important conference.

Keynote address will be presented by Dr. Mia Patty-Noach (Professor of History from Nusa Cendana University, Kupang-NTT, Indonesia) this will be followed by seven round-table meetings for two days. Topics to be discussed at the round table meetings range from maritime boundaries and resources, to rights of indigenous inhabitants and models for regional co-operation in disputed areas.

The conference will be held at Sanur Beach Hotel, Jalan Danau Tamblingan, P.O. BOX 3279 Denpasar 80032 Nusa Dua Bali Indonesia on 25-27 October 2007.



The Conference is supported byNetherlands Funding Agency IMPULSIS

The Implementation of the Conference

The conference will be held on 25-27 October 2007 in Denpasar – Bali, Indonesia. On the first day, a keynote speech will be presented as a general introduction to the problem. There will be seven round-table discussions on different aspects of the issues at stake among local and international experts, including experts from Australia and Timor Leste.

25 October Introduction
14.00h	Reception of participants (accreditation, materials, etc.)
15.00h	Opening Ceremony: Objectives of the Conference
	Speakers: 1. Mr. Piet Tallo, SH (Governor of NTT Province, Indonesia) 2. Mr. Dewa Made Beratha (Governor of Bali Province, Indonesia) 3. Prof. Dr. I Made Bakta,Sp.PD (Rector of UDAYANA University, Bali, Indonesia) 4. Ms. Yetty Haning, MA, LLM (Jurists Commission’s Coordinator)
16.00h	Keynote Speech: “Historical Overview of the Maritime Conflict in the Timor GAP and in Ashmore Reef & Cartier Islands”
	Speaker: Prof. Dr. Mia Patty-Noach, Prof. of History from Nusa Cendana University, Kupang-NTT, Indonesia
26 October First Session: Maritime issues in the Timor Sea
9.00h.	First Round Table. Maritime Spaces and Resources in South East Asia
	Speakers: 1. Attorney Mario E. Maderazo (The Philipine) 2. Prof. Dr. Alex. O. Elferink (NILOS, Netherlands) 3. Prof. Dr. Kusuma Admatja (ex. Indonesia Foreign Minister) Chairperson/Rapporteur:
11.00h	Coffee-break.
11.30h.	Second Round Table. Marine Parks, Fisheries and Fishing Rights in the Timor Sea
	Speakers: 1. Prof. Dr. Eduard Somers, (Dean of the Law School, Gent University, Belgium) 2. Timor Leste 3. Dr. Faizal Basri (Jakarta – Indonesia) Chairperson/Rapporteur:
13.00h.	Lunch
14.15h.	Third Round Table. The delimitation agreements between Indonesia and Australia on Continental Shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (before and after the independence of East Timor from Indonesia): a legal analysis.
	Speakers: 1. Prof. Gayl Westerman, Pace Law School, USA 2. Prof. Dr. Hasjim Djalal (Jakarta – Indonesia) 3. Prof. Dr. Yohanes Usfunan (UNUD-Bali, Indonesia) 4. Mr. Jose Texeira (Ex. Minister of Natural Resources, Timor Leste) Chairperson/Rapporteur:
15.45h	Coffee-break.
16.15h.	Fourth Round Table. Disputed maritime spaces: Models for regional cooperation, and prospects for re-evaluation and re-negotiation of maritime border lines of Indonesia, Timor Leste and Australia
	Speakers: 1.Prof. Dr. N.J. Schrijver, Leiden University - Netherlands 2.Prof. Dr. Emil Salim (Ex. Indonesia’s Environmental Minister) 3.Toenggoel Siagian, MS,MED (Jakarta – Indonesia) 4. Thomas Freitas (Luta Hamutuk, Timor Leste) 5. Australia Chairperson/Rapporteur:
18.30h	Closing of the session
27 October Second Session: Sovereignty issues in and around the Timor Sea
9.00h.	First Round Table Non-Australian Indigenous People and Australian Law in Ashmore Reef & Cartier Islands: Inadequacies of existing MOUs on fisheries of Rotinese fishermen and prospects for protection of their Human Rights
	Speakers: 1. Philip Vincent (Barrister, Australia) 3. Dr. Yusuf Henuk (Kupang – NTT, Indonesia) 4. Lerry Mboeik (PIAR, Indonesia) 5. Peter Rohi (Java Post, Indonesia) 6. Hasan Zaili (Fisherman from Roti Island) Chairperson/Rapporteur:
11.00h	Coffee-break.
11.30h.	Second Round Table Cooperation and conflict over territory in the island of Timor
	Speakers: 1. Wollongong University (Australia) 2. George Junus Aditjondro – Indonesia 3. Deometrio Amaral (Haburas – Timor Leste) 4. Ferdi Tanoni (West Timor Care, Indonesia) Chairperson/Rapporteur:
13.00h	Lunch
14.15h	Third Round Table Disputed islands and sovereignty in the Timor Sea: Towards a bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Australia on Ashmore Reef and Cartier island
	Speakers: 1. Dr Vivian Louis Forbes (The University of Western Australia, Crawley) 2. Ze Luis (Yayasan Hak, Timor Leste) 3. Indonesia Chairperson/Rapporteur:
16.00h	Conclusions and Steps Ahead
16.30h	Closing Ceremony

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Ms. Yetty Haning
Coordinator
International Association of Jurists for Maritime Delimitation for Timor Sea and the Pacific Rim (IAJ-TGAP)
Spaarnestraat 76
2515 VP The Hague
Netherlands
Phone/Fax: +31-70-7799856
Email: y.haning@iaj-tgap.org
Url: www.iaj-tgap.org