Post by NightLord on Oct 9, 2003 2:08:18 GMT 8
HAMBURG (Germany) -- An international tribunal ruled on Wednesday that Singapore can continue land reclamation work in the straits that separate the Republic from Malaysia while the two countries bring the case to arbitration.
But in allowing Singapore to continue, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Judge Dollier Nelson said that the two nations must establish a group of independent experts who would monitor the project and keep Malaysia informed on all developments.
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Malaysia brought the case to the tribunal after two months of talks, saying Singapore had been acting unilaterally and that negotiations without outside mediation had been futile.
Malaysia had requested the tribunal to order the immediate halt to the land reclamation while the case is brought to an arbitration tribunal, which can sometimes take months or longer.
During three days of hearings at the end of September, Malaysia argued the reclamation work was causing damaging the marine environment in the Straits of Johor, which separate the two countries.
It argued that rectifying erosion problems, for example, could be 'extremely expensive' compared to the 'costs of a short delay' to the contractors in Singapore.
Singapore countered that Malaysia did not have jurisdiction over the area where work was being carried out, and that Singapore's studies showed there was no 'foreseeable risk' of pollution or damage to the environment.
Singapore's request for Malaysia to bear the legal fees for the hearing was, however, turned down. The tribunal ruled that each side would bear its own legal costs. -- AP
But in allowing Singapore to continue, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Judge Dollier Nelson said that the two nations must establish a group of independent experts who would monitor the project and keep Malaysia informed on all developments.
Advertisement
Malaysia brought the case to the tribunal after two months of talks, saying Singapore had been acting unilaterally and that negotiations without outside mediation had been futile.
Malaysia had requested the tribunal to order the immediate halt to the land reclamation while the case is brought to an arbitration tribunal, which can sometimes take months or longer.
During three days of hearings at the end of September, Malaysia argued the reclamation work was causing damaging the marine environment in the Straits of Johor, which separate the two countries.
It argued that rectifying erosion problems, for example, could be 'extremely expensive' compared to the 'costs of a short delay' to the contractors in Singapore.
Singapore countered that Malaysia did not have jurisdiction over the area where work was being carried out, and that Singapore's studies showed there was no 'foreseeable risk' of pollution or damage to the environment.
Singapore's request for Malaysia to bear the legal fees for the hearing was, however, turned down. The tribunal ruled that each side would bear its own legal costs. -- AP
