Timor-Leste: Foreign Interests Trying to Exploit My Fragile Nation, Says Timor PM Xanana Gusmao

Oct 19, 2014 | Tom Allard, The Sydney Morning Herald
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Foreign interests are trying to "dominate" East Timor, exploiting the fragility of the tiny nation to deny its rightful share of the oil and gas revenues in the Timor Sea and sow unrest, its Prime Minister says.

Xanana Gusmao made the remarks as the fledgling state is embroiled in bitter fights with the Australian government and multinational oil companies over the resources that contribute 90 per cent of its income.

It emerged last year that Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)  agents bugged Timorese government offices to gain an advantage in treaty negotiations over the lucrative reserves that lie between the two countries.