Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Conditions of the seabed in the Timor Sea have become concerning following the Montara incident, according to photo and video recordings made by Care West Timor Foundation (YPTB).

The coral reefs where fish grow were destroyed strongly believed to be caused by chemicals Corexit 9500 or dispersant sprayed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to submerge an oil spill to the seabed in the Timor Sea, according to the pictures and videos shown to reporters here on Thursday.

YPTB chief Ferdi Tanoni said the undersea pictures and videos were made by experts from the Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS) and from Australia on October 10-12, 2011 who are YPTB`s partners.

The destruction occurred because of crude oil spills from an explosion of Montara well in the West Atlas Block in the Timor Sea on August 21, 2009.

"The undersea photographs are material for a study on the socio-economic, health and environmental impact of the incident so far covered by the polluting company PTTEP Australasia," Tanoni said.

He said there was no more reason for PTTEP Australasia, the federal government of Australia and the Northern Australia government to not conduct a thorough, comprehensive, credible and independent scientific study on the socio-economic, health and environmental impact of the incident on the local people.

"We need an appropriate, overall, transparent, credible and independent scientific study financed by PTTEP Australasia and the government of Australia as a form of their responsibility for the incident that has caused the people of West Timor in East Nusa Tenggara fall victim," he said.

"Based on the results of the study the cost of the damage and others would then be known," he said.

He said the demand had been conveyed to the Australian prime minister and PTTEP Australasia in September 2010 with its copy also sent to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"We demand the study in response to PTTEP Australasia`s statement that the oil spills in Timor Sea is small and does not affect the local people environmentally, socially and economically," he said.

He said the destruction of 64,000 hectares of coral reefs in Sawu Sea and several other strange diseases now attacking the coastal people in East Nusa Tenggara were believed to be the results of the Montara oil spills and chemical substances used to submerge the oil spills to the seabed.
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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