“The class action lawsuit filed by seaweed farmers from Indonesia is a great thing to see,” said Australian Greens politician Rachel Siewert in an email, as quoted by Care for West Timor Foundation (YPTB) chairman Ferdi Tanoni on Sunday.

In the letter, Ferdi said, the Australian green political party senator also expressed her commitment to see justice for those who had been impacted by damages from the oil spill at the Montara oil rig. She said the impacts from the disaster would affect coastal communities throughout their lifetime, he went on.

(Read also : Australian court accepts class action lawsuit filed by Indonesian fishermen)

Siewert, who was elected in the Australian election in July, further recalled that, accompanied by Ferdi and Kupang Regent Ayub Titu Eki, she visited and held a dialogue with seaweed farmers in Tablolong, West Kupang district, Kupang regency, East Nusa Tenggara in February 2014.

“When I visited seaweed farmers and fishermen in West Timor, Indonesia, I directly heard their complaints and worries about impacts of the Montara oil spill to the social and economic life of the seaweed farmers, fishermen and the local economy,” said Siewert as quoted by Ferdi.

The senator further stated the oil spill took place for more than 10 weeks and, based on the company’s estimation it released more than 4.5 million liters of oil to the Timor Sea.

“It’s clear the Montara oil spill ended in Indonesian waters and since then, Indonesian fishermen and seaweed farmers complained about its impacts to their livelihood, bringing significant economic losses,” she said.  (ebf)

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