Another notable criticism expressed by the pro-East Timorese groups was
that the deferral of final resolution of the maritime boundaries delimitation
issue serves to compromise East Timor’s sovereignty. According to the TSJC,
the delimitation of permanent international maritime boundaries is “integral to
East Timor’s process of self-determination and achieving true independence,”
with the TSJC’s Tom Clarke stating that without “just and fair borders,” East
Timor’s “struggle will continue.”Meanwhile, ETAN put forward the view
that “the struggle for independence remains incomplete without definitive
boundaries accepted by their neighbors,”
whilst La’o Hamutuk stated that the
Treaty fails to solve the “essential problem” of defining a final maritime
boundary