Australia is accused of conducting an operation that targeted east timors cabinet when the two countries were negotiating a gas treaty in 2004. East timor takes australia to court over spying dispute. Australia has been ordered to cease spying on east timor and its legal advisers, in a landmark decision by the international court of justice relating to a bitter dispute between the two countries. In april last year, east timor instituted arbitral proceedings against australia at the permanent court of arbitration pca in relation to a dispute arising under the 2006 treaty on certain maritime arrangements in the timor sea cmats treaty. That treaty set out how the nations would divide lucrative gas. East timor has dropped its spying case against australia as part of negotiations to resolve the longrunning dispute over permanent maritime boundaries in the timor sea. Australia confronts past with east timor the senior 2259. Lawyer for east timor bernard collaery alleges the australian secret intelligence. Australia and timorleste to negotiate permanent maritime. The australia east timor spying scandal began in 2004 when the australian secret intelligence service asis clandestinely planted covert listening devices in a room adjacent to the timorleste east timor prime ministers office at dili, to obtain information in order to ensure australian interests held the upper hand in negotiations with timorleste over the rich oil and gas fields in the timor gap. Australia charges former spy and lawyer over east timor.
Jun 28, 2018 australian spy and lawyer charged over east timor scandal lawmaker andrew wilkie addresses the media in parliament house in canberra, australia, thursday, june 28, 2018. Jan 08, 2017 australia has never formally admitted spying on timorleste during cmats negotiations, though it did raid the canberra offices of timorlestes lawyer bernard collaery, and seized the passport. Spying on east timor hypocritical a balmy summer morning, the leafy back streets of narrabundah in suburban canberra, and some 15 besuited asio agents are ringing the doorbell of a modest red. The australiaeast timor spying scandal began in 2004 when the australian secret intelligence service asis clandestinely planted covert listening devices in a room adjacent to the timorleste prime ministers office at dili, to obtain information in order to ensure australian interests held the upper hand in negotiations with timorleste over the rich oil and gas fields in the timor gap. Australia has never formally admitted spying on timorleste during cmats negotiations, though it did raid the canberra offices of timorlestes lawyer bernard collaery, and seized the passport. If there is an area code dial area code of the city in east timor you are calling after dialing isd code. Secret case over bugging of dili cabinet raises fears about erosion of civil liberties.
Jun 28, 2018 australian spy and lawyer charged over east timor scandal june 28, 2018 the canadian press canberra, australia a former spy and his lawyer who accused the australian government of illegally bugging the east timorese cabinet while negotiating a deal to share oil and gas revenue have been charged with conspiring to disclose secret information. Sep 09, 2014 the timor leste spying case is a taste of our future under asios new powers. Mar 04, 2014 australia said the decision was a good outcome, as it refused east timor s request for the documents return. That treaty set out how the nations would divide lucrative gas reserves in the. The spy, known as witness k, was to testify at the international court of justice in the hague in 2014 in support of east timor s challenge to the validity of the 2006 treaty. The australiaeast timor spying scandal began in 2004 when the australian secret intelligence service asis clandestinely planted covert listening devices in. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. East timor drops its spying case against australia abc. East timor to tear up oil and gas treaty with australia.
The timor spying case is a taste of our future under asio. Australian spy to plead guilty in east timor bugging case. Australian spy and lawyer charged over east timor scandal. Top lawyer says australia has criminal case to answer over. Timor leste withdraws spying case against australia amid new.
Stop spying on timor, court tells australia new matilda. It is a history bound up in the arbitral dispute that timorleste instituted on april 23, 20, in which it seeks to have the 2006 treaty. Analysis of the threats facing interfet forces written at the time of the 1999 intervention. Mar 15, 2014 australias solicitorgeneral, justin gleeson, wasnt so much concerned about east timor as former australian intelligence officials who were happy to blow the whistle on the exercise. Jun 28, 2018 canberra, australia a former spy and his lawyer who accused the australian government of illegally bugging the east timorese cabinet while negotiating a deal to share oil and gas revenue have. The violence erupted after a majority of eligible east timorese voters chose independence from indonesia.
East timor has accused australia of spying to gain a commercial advantage during 2004 negotiations over the timor sea gas treaty, called the certain maritime arrangements. Jun 28, 2018 the former spy, who is known only as witness k, provided evidence of the australian spying operation in 2004, which allegedly involved bugging the cabinet office in the east timor capital of dili. Australia prosecutes east timor spying whistleblower financial. Jan 20, 2014 east timor is taking australia to the world court in an escalating dispute over a maritime agreement that could unlock billions of dollars in gas revenues for one of asias poorest countries. Australia accused of playing dirty in battle with east timor. East timor is taking australia to the world court in an escalating dispute over a maritime agreement that could unlock billions of dollars in gas revenues for one of asias poorest countries.
Plain facts about east timor and indonesia action network. They did this in the nuclear test case sir ninian stephen and also in the east timor case sir garfield barwick. When east timor suggested that the dispute be referred to the international court of justice icj, australia, a selfcongratulating champion of a rulesbased order, withdrew from the court. The spy scandal we should all be angry about courier mail.
Mar 05, 2014 this means east timor has no legal avenue in which to challenge australias stubborn refusal to establish permanent maritime boundaries. The 1999 east timorese crisis began with attacks of general violence throughout the country, centered in the capital dili. One of australias most senior lawyers believes there is a criminal case to answer over an australian spying operation in east timor and that senior intelligence officers, even a former cabinet. Leste and its advisors in connection with the pending arbitration under the timor sea treaty of 20 may 2002 between timorleste and australia. The australiaindonesia spying scandal concerns allegations made in 20 by the guardian and australian broadcasting corporation, based on documents leaked to the guardian and the australian broadcasting corporation, that the australian signals directorate attempted to monitor the mobile phone calls of indonesian president susilo bambang yudhoyono, his wife kristiani herawati, and senior. Instead, in order to benefit from its own oil and gas resources, it has had to resort to a series of temporary deals with australia that shortchange east timor out of billions of dollars. Australia charges former officer in east timor spy. It was outrageous, galbraith tells guardian australia from his home in the us. How to call east timor from australia calling east timor. A unauthorized force consisting mainly of australian defence force personnel was deployed to east timor to establish and.
Jul, 2018 australia s spying on timor leste faces police probe independent mps believe australia could have defrauded the tiny catholic nation of millions of dollars timor leste students chant slogans during a rally over a maritime boundary between their country and australia in dili in march 2016. Spying by the australian intelligence services on officials of other. Dec 04, 20 bernard collaery says the head of asis ordered a team into east timor to conduct work which was well outside the proper functions of asis. East timor accuses australia of spying for commercial gain. Nov 27, 20 australia is under further pressure over spying in the region, with east timor accusing spies of bugging its cabinet room for commercial advantage, and threatening to scrap a potentially lucrative. Issues and scenarios, dr adam cobb foreign affairs, defence and trade group, parliamentary library, current issues brief 3 19992000, 21 september 1999. Market profile east timor for australian exporters. Timor leste as east timor is formally known alleges that the cmats treaty is invalid because australia engaged in espionage in the. The timor spying case is a taste of our future under asios. A spying scandal exposes australias immoral behavior toward east. Australia has been involved in five cases at the icj. The economy of timor leste is largely based on offshore oil and gas exploration in the timor sea. Mr collaery was east timors legal adviser at the time, and also had on his books the agent who ran the bugging operation.
Yesterday, the icj delivered a provisional decision in a case that east timor brought against australia, following dramatic asio raids that occurred late last year on the canberra offices of timors lawyers. Nov 27, 2015 one of australia s most senior lawyers believes there is a criminal case to answer over an australian spying operation in east timor and that senior intelligence officers, even a former cabinet. Mr collaery, who has just arrived in the hague, told fairfax media the raids were a disgrace. Australia s bugging of east timor ahead of gas negotiations may be illegal under australian law according to experts, meaning some cabinet ministers may face prosecution. Timor leste withdraws spying case against australia amid. After the spying operation came to light in 2012, east timor notified australia that it was taking the case to the permanent court of arbitration in the hague. The old treaty was thrown out after the spying scandal and involvement of the international court of justice. The government of timor leste has withdrawn its 20 spying arbitration against australia, which is the latest step towards resolving the longstanding sea dispute between the two nations. Brandis tries to suppress the east timor spy scandal. Amid the furore over allegations of spying on indonesias leaders, east timor has repeated claims that australia bugged its leaders during delicate negotiations on the timor sea resources treaty. A dusty corner on the internet where you can chew the fat about australia and australians.
Australia accused of playing dirty in battle with east. Australia has given its undertaking however that it will not read or study the seized materials until such time as the icjs judges have made a ruling on east timors request. Australia said the decision was a good outcome, as it refused east timors request for the documents return. We are so proud for this day, 20 years ago we were still young and we heard the story about australia, a big country helping us to win independence and they were good to support us, said nanda soares, a 32yearold east timorese woman. Icj orders australia to stop spying on east timor sbs news. Australia has claimed exclusive rights to tax gas from the pipeline. The economy of timorleste is largely based on offshore oil and gas exploration in the timor sea. A 2002 agreement gave east timor 90% of royalties from the bayuundan gas field. East timor argued the alleged espionage gave australian negotiators an unfair advantage. East timors natural resources minister has claimed the australian government sent four spies under the cover of an aid project to dili in 2004, in order to bug negotiations for a crucial gas treaty. Australia and east timor have reached an agreement on key elements of a maritime boundary and revenue sharing from a naturalgas field beneath the seabed between the two countries, an.
Canberra, australia ap a former spy and his lawyer who accused the australian government of illegally bugging the east timorese cabinet while negotiating a deal to share oil and gas revenue. Nov 29, 20 east timorese government prepares legal case over australian spying by patrick oconnor 29 november 20 amid an ongoing diplomatic crisis between canberra and jakarta over phonetapping, the. This letter revised important elements of australias position on east timors future. Australian government is trying to hide form disgrace over. East timorese government prepares legal case over australian spying by patrick oconnor 29 november 20 amid an ongoing diplomatic crisis.
At the same time, east timor has an extremely meager budget compared to australia, east timors per capita expenditures on health care, agriculture, and education are tiny. Notwithstanding indonesian public opinion in the 1990s occasionally showing begrudging appreciation of the timorese position, it was widely feared that an independent east timor would destabilise indonesian unity. Would spying on east timor by the australian secret intelligence. Asis is an overseas spy agency that operates out of australian embassies. The disgraced of australias spying on the east timorese government is finally unfolding. A spying scandal exposes australias immoral behavior. The interfet concept of operations was for a fourphase operation with a preliminary phase involving preparation in australia prior to deployment to east timor. That the newly emerging small nation was was being treated in this way, was uncovered by the intended target in 2004. After a border dispute and spying scandal, can australia and timor leste be good neighbours. The timorleste spying case is a taste of our future under asios new powers. Australia has done much to atone for our disgraceful east timor behaviour, but our spying, and the treatment of the whistleblowers who exposed it, shames our country, writes terry sweetman. A former spy and his lawyer have been charged with conspiring to reveal.
Dec 16, 20 australia is accused of conducting an operation that targeted east timors cabinet when the two countries were negotiating a gas treaty in 2004. Canberra, australia a former spy and his lawyer who accused the australian government of illegally bugging the east timorese cabinet while negotiating a deal to share oil and gas revenue have. Since timor lestes independence, relations with australia have been undermined by contentious negotiations over oil and gas fields. After a border dispute and spying scandal, can australia and timorleste be good neighbours. East timor again raises aust spying claim newscomau. Abc fact check finds mr collaery is unlikely to be. Australia is under further pressure over spying in the region, with east timor accusing spies of bugging its cabinet room for commercial advantage, and threatening to. Dec 04, 20 australia defends a raid on the offices of a lawyer representing east timor in a spying row case against australia at the hague. Australian spy and lawyer charged over east timor scandal lawmaker andrew wilkie addresses the media in parliament house in canberra, australia, thursday, june 28, 2018. Canberra, australia a former spy and his lawyer who accused the australian government of illegally bugging the east timorese cabinet while negotiating a. The program examines the tension between those who say national security is. The lawyers had been preparing for a significant legal proceeding challenging an oil and gas treaty when asio seized the legal teams documentsmore.
In 3 of those 5 including the current timor leste case, australia has appointed a former high court judge as its ad hoc judge. Bernard collaery says the head of asis ordered a team into east timor to conduct work which was well outside the proper functions of asis. Market profile east timor for australian exporters austrade. Witness k and collaery are accused of disclosing an australian bugging operation carried out in the government offices of timor leste in 2004. In the aftermath of the australiaeast timor spying scandal in 20, east timor launched a case at the permanent court of arbitration in the hague to pull out of the gas treaty it had signed with australia accusing the latter of having its intelligence agency, the australian secret intelligence service asis, bug the east timorese cabinet room in dili in 2004. Australias spying on timorleste faces police probe independent mps believe australia could have defrauded the tiny catholic nation of millions of dollars timorleste students chant slogans during a rally over a maritime boundary between their country and australia in dili in march 2016. Australias solicitorgeneral, justin gleeson, wasnt so much concerned about east timor as former australian intelligence officials who were happy to blow the whistle on the exercise. Australia defends east timor spy row raid bbc news.
The former spy, who is known only as witness k, provided evidence of the australian spying operation in 2004, which allegedly involved bugging the. Follow the dialing format shown above while calling east timor from australia 0011 exit code for australia, and is needed for making any international call from australia. Australia, east timor agree on maritime boundary wsj. Bernard collaery helped the timorleste government build a case against. Australia defends a raid on the offices of a lawyer representing east timor in a spying row case against australia at the hague. Asio asis is australias foreign spy agency while asio deals with. Two east timorese presidents give evidence backing bernard. However, bayuundan is closer to east timor than australia and the agreement allows the gas to be piped to darwin. Australia prosecutes east timor spying whistleblower. Australias spies fight to keep covert operation in east timor secret.
Australias entitled to be concerned that timor leste may be encouraging the commission of that crime. East timor, also known as timor leste, will tender evidence of the eavesdropping as part of its case. East timorese government prepares legal case over australian. Nov 28, 20 amid the furore over allegations of spying on indonesias leaders, east timor has repeated claims that australia bugged its leaders during delicate negotiations on the timor sea resources treaty. Independence for east timor, or even limited regional autonomy, was never going to be allowed under suhartos new order. Australias spying on timorleste faces police probe uca. Two exleaders of timorleste and a former australian cabinet minister.
Leste and its advisors in connection with the pending arbitration under the timor sea treaty of 20 may 2002 between timor leste and australia. He said the man asio had detained in australia was a whistleblower who had led the australian secret intelligence serice operation to bug the. Australia ordered to cease spying on east timor by. Australian spy and lawyer charged over east timor scandal june 28, 2018 the canadian press canberra, australia a former spy and his lawyer who accused the australian government of illegally bugging the east timorese cabinet while negotiating a deal to share oil and gas revenue have been charged with conspiring to disclose secret information. Australias spying on timorleste faces police probe uca news. East timor s natural resources minister has claimed the australian government sent four spies under the cover of an aid project to dili in 2004, in order to bug negotiations for a crucial gas treaty. Australia, bugging and east timor by binoy kampmark 5 july 2018, 4.
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