Who Owns East Timor's Oil and Gas ?  

Some pre-Anzac day TV ads are being run to suggest it might be the East Timorese...

An 85-year-old World War II veteran has defended a series of television commercials that condemn the federal government for its negotiations over Timor Sea oil and gas rights.

The ads feature World war II veterans who served in East Timor and who are critical of Australia's position in the negotiations over the $41 billion oil and gas reserves.

Former engineers sergeant John Jones today rejected criticism from the RSL that the Anzac spirit should not be used to criticise the government over the Timor Sea issue.

"Anzac day is for all Australians and particularly those who fought in any of the wars that Australia was involved in," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"Any of those Australians has the right to say what he wants to say on Anzac Day if it involves him and his experiences."

Mr Jones defended his fellow soldiers who have appeared in the ads saying the federal government's attitude was not in the "Anzac spirit" and Prime Minister John Howard was not welcome at their Anzac Day parade.

"Only for the Timorese we would not be here today," Mr Jones said.

Former Australian Army major Chip Henriss-Anderssen who served with Interfet forces in 1999-2000 said the ads reminded Australians of the Anzac spirit and the "Australian notion of a fair go".

"It is a clear cut, very simple issue," he said.

"They're poor, we are rich. We have a lot of resources, they haven't.

"We need to give them their oil and we need to look after this country."