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Title
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- 1995 (Creation)
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Printed document, 70 pp.
Context area
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Administrative history
ETAN-US was formed in 1991 after the Santa Cruz massacre, and became the major US solidarity coalition. It published Network News, later renamed as Estafeta (Tetun for "messenger" or "courier"). Based in the New York area, it had chapters throughout the United States and for a time, a lobbying office in Washington. Key figures include Charles Scheiner, Lynn Frederickson, and John Miller.
ETAN/US self-description at http://www.etan.org/etan/default.htm
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PRESS REPORTS .......................................................................................................................................... 2
ICJ PRESS RELEASE ......................................................................................................................................2
BBC’S FIRST REPORT.....................................................................................................................................3
AUSTRALIA WINS WORLD COURT RULING IN TIMOR OIL ROW...................................................................3
INDONESIA, AUSTRALIA WELCOME TIMOR COURT RULING.........................................................................3
ICJ RULING NO VINDICATION OF AUSTRALIAN POSITION............................................................................4
EXPLOITING THE DECISION..........................................................................................................................4
A SEMI-DEFEAT..............................................................................................................................................5
COMMENTS FROM PARTIES........................................................................................................................ 5
PORTUGUESE RESPONSE TO ICJ RULING ON TIMOR GAP ............................................................................5
EVANS: EAST TIMOR CALLED INDONESIA’S ‘RUNNING SORE’......................................................................5
TECHNICAL K.O. – DURÃO BARROSO’S CHALLEN GE .....................................................................................6
PORTUGAL’S TAKE ON WORLD COURT NON-DECISION ...............................................................................6
COMMENTS FROM ADVOCATES................................................................................................................. 6
JOSÉ RAMOS-HORTA ON ICJ’S RULING .......................................................................................................6
BCET: AUSTRALIA’S “VICTORY” PURELY PROCEDURAL ..................................................................................7
TAPOL: JAKARTA DOES NOT DARE TO FACE WORLD COURT JURISDICTION.................................................7
ETAN/US: WORLD COURT AVOIDS SUBSTANCE, DENIES EAST TIMOR ITS DAY IN COURT............................8
ACET SOLIDARITY ON ICJ NON-DECISION ...................................................................................................8
A DIFFERENT VIEW ........................................................................................................................................9
COMMENT FROM EXPERTS....................................................................................................................... 10
IAIN SCOBBIE: A VERY POSITIVE RULING ...................................................................................................10
THE ICJ DECISION - A PYRRHIC VICTORY ..................................................................................................10
Documents on East Timor from
PeaceNet and Connected Computer Networks
Volume 38(ICJ): World Court Decides Timor Gap Case
June, 1995
Published by:
East Timor Action Network / U.S.
P.O. Box 1182, White Plains, NY 10602 USA
Tel: 914-428-7299 Fax: 914-428-7383 E-mail CSCHEINER@IGC.APC.ORG
These documents are produced approximately every two months and mailed to subscribers.
For additional or back copies, send US$30 per volume; add $5 for international air mail. Discount
rates: $15 for educational and non-profit institutions; $8 for U.S. activists; $11 international.
Subscription rates: $180 ($90 educational, $48 activist) for the next six issues. Add $30 ($18 activist)
for international air mail. Further subsidies are available for groups in Third World countries working
on East Timor. Checks should be made out to “ETAN.”
Reprinting and distribution without permission is welcomed.
Much of this information is supplied by TAPOL and BCET (London), CDPM (Lisbon), CNRM, and other
activists and solidarity groups, but they are not responsible for editorial comment or selection.
Page 2 East Timor Documents, Volume 38. Timor Gap Case decided.
TEXT OF OPINION...................................................................................................................................... 11
TEXT OF WORLD COURT DECISION.............................................................................................................11
CONCURRING OPINIONS............................................................................................................................ 17
SEPARATE OPINION OF JUDGE ODA...........................................................................................................17
SEPARATE OPINION OF JUDGE RANJEVA....................................................................................................20
SEPARATE OPINION OF JUDGE VERESHCHETIN .........................................................................................22
SEPARATE OPINION OF JUDGE SHAHABUDDEEN .......................................................................................24
TEXT OF DISSENTS.................................................................................................................................... 27
DISSENTING OPINION OF JUDGE WEERAMANTRY .....................................................................................27
PART A. THE POSITION OF THIRD PARTY STATES ...................................................................................30
PART B. THE IUS STANDI OF PORTUGAL .................................................................................................39
PART C. THE RIGHTS OF EAST TIMOR.....................................................................................................43
PART D. THE OBLIGATIONS OF AUSTRALIA.............................................................................................48
PART E. AUSTRALIA’S OBJECTIONS BASED ON JUDICIAL PROPRIETY ....................................................51
CONCLUSION .........................................................................................................................................53
DISSENTING OPINION OF JUDGE SKUBISZEWSKI......................................................................................54
SECTION I: BASIC FACTS ON EAST TIMOR ..............................................................................................54
SECTION II: EXISTENCE OF THE DISPUTE ..............................................................................................57
SECTION III: JURISDICTION, ADMISSIBILITY, PROPRIETY .....................................................................58
SECTION IV: THE TERRITORY OF EAST TIMOR........................................................................................65
SECTION V: CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................70