Indonesia may keep share of Timor Gap sales (1046).

NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Indonesia could retain a share of oil and gas revenue from the area between Timor Island and Australia, known as the Timor Gap, after East Timor's independence, an official said on Tuesday.

"The East Timorese can't instantly take over control of the Timor Gap if it becomes independent. The case is not that simple since the Timor Gap covers an area which Indonesia can also claim," said Sutomo Sudomo, technical director of the Australian Indonesian Joint Authority for the Timor Gap Zone of Cooperation.

"If East Timor becomes an independent country, there will be three countries which can claim control over the area: East Timor, Indonesia and Australia."

He said Timor Gap was located about 350 kilometers off the coast of the Kupang in the western half of the island of Timor, and was about the same distance from the coast of East Timor.

The Australian …