T

he Timor Evangelical Church (GMIT) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province has demanded that the Australian government immediately compensate fishermen deprived by the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea in August 2009. The fishermen are in Timor, Rota, Sabu, Sumba, Alor, Lembata and East Flores, NTT.

'€œThe Australian government and the Montara oil and gas field operator has shunned its responsibility,'€ GMIT synod head Rev. Robert Litelnoni told The Jakarta Post Monday.

The demand, said Robert was decided in a GMIT synod meeting from April 14 to 18 in Kupang, NTT. The oil pollution in the Timor Sea has caused negative impacts on the marine ecosystem as well as human survival.

The GMIT, said Robert, had officially sent a letter to the Uniting Church in Australia to urge the Australian government to resolve the issue. The letter, dated April 20, 2015, was also forwarded to President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo, Indonesian Churches Union and the West Timor Care Foundation (YPTB).

Separately, YPTB head Ferdi Tanoni expressed concern that the impacts from the oil spill caused more then 10,000 fishermen and seaweed farmers living along the coasts in Timor, Rote, Sabu, Alor, Lembata, East Flores and Sumba to lose their source of livelihood.