The Australia-Indonesia spying scandal concerns allegations made in 2013 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 officials.
Video Australia-Indonesia spying scandal
Background
Beginning in June 2013, reports from media outlets including The Guardian and The Washington Post revealed operational details of the US National Security Agency's mass surveillance of US and foreign nationals. The reports were based on a series of secret documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Further disclosures indicated that the NSA's surveillance operations extended to include the intelligence-gathering agencies of US allies, including the British Government Communications Headquarters and Australia's Defence Signals Directorate, members of the UKUSA or "Five Eyes" security agreement.
In October, 2013, Der Spiegel reported that German intelligence services had received "credible evidence" that Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone had been targeted by the NSA. Later that month, reports from Der Spiegel and Fairfax Media stated that Australian embassies and diplomatic posts in Asia were being used to intercept phone calls and data, including during the 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
On 2004 Indonesia bugged Australia's embassy in Jakarta during the East Timor crisis and has tried to recruit Australians as spies Retiring Indonesian intelligence chief General Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono admitted.
Maps Australia-Indonesia spying scandal
Response
The allegations prompted Indonesia to immediately recall its ambassador to Australia, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott initially declined to apologise or comment on the matter, prompting accusations from President Yudhoyono that he had "belittled" Indonesia's response to the issue. Speaking to Parliament, Abbott went on to argue that Australia "should not be expected to apologise for...reasonable intelligence-gathering activities". The next day, Indonesia responded by reviewing all areas of bilateral cooperation, including on issues around people smuggling, a major component of the Abbott Government's Operation Sovereign Borders policy.
The Australian government's response to the issue prompted criticism from current and former leaders in both countries, including former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, former Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, in addition to negative reporting in the Indonesian media. Demonstrations were also held outside Australia's embassy in Jakarta.
In contrast, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten declined to criticise Abbott, instead emphasising the importance of the bilateral relationship, and arguing that the government's response should be a "Team Australia moment". Former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer argued that the diplomatic response to the issue was "beyond the control" of Tony Abbott's government.
The allegations, and Indonesia's response, attracted significant coverage in Indonesian and international media, particularly following allegations that the US National Security Agency had attempted to monitor the mobile phone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
See also
- Australia-East Timor spying scandal
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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