A spying trial in Australia carries dangers
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In 2004, Australian spies clandestinely installed a room in East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, during delicate negotiations over a revenue-sharing agreement for the energy resources of the Greater Sunrise gas field in Timor .
Some expected, in the midst of the revelations of espionage, that the espionage agency be put on the run. Instead, the two whistleblowers who leaked the story to the media – a former intelligence agent and his lawyer – will be on the dock this week in a case that could have a big impact on the freedom of the press. press in Australia. Asia – Directly to Your Inbox
This is the political paranoia surrounding the case that it seems that hearings of the Australian Capital Territory High Court (Canberra) could be totally suppressed, even if the espionage charges relate to a commercial transaction.
Yet, the lawyer, Bernard Collaery, argues that his client identified in court documents only as a witness K was given the green light to disclose his apprehensions about espionage by none other than the only one. Inspector General of Intelligence, who believed that the details would probably be disclosed in any case.
"I will survive those rats that are pursuing me right now," said Collaery after they were charged. under the Intelligence Act with conspiracy to communicate information from the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the agency that collects information for Australia abroad. In case of guilt, they could both be imprisoned for up to two years.
The insects were apparently planted in a cabinet room in the Timorese capital of Dili, used to negotiate a revenue sharing agreement for the Greater Sunrise field. Timorese students shout slogans during a protest outside the Australian Embbady in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 24, 2016. Dozens of students and activists have called the Australian government to help solve the problem. maritime boundary issues between East Timor and Australia. REUTERS / Beawiharta – RTSC0SS "width =" 3956 "height =" 2636 "/>
Timorese students shout slogans during a protest outside the Australian Embbady in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 24, 2016. Photo: Reuters / Beawiharta
Signed in 2006, the Agreement gave the lion's share of income; Timor Leste challenged the validity of the agreement at the International Court of Justice in The Hague in 2014. Witness K was supposed to testify, but his pbadport He was seized during a search of his home by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, a domestic espionage agency, late 2013.
In March of this year, Australia signed a new treaty that transfers to Timor Leste that badly needs to be ########################################################################### A reliable source of wealth to lift the country out of poverty. In return, Dili withdrew his case in The Hague.
Even the main target of the operation listening, the US diplomat Peter Galbraith, thinks the wrong people are in court. Galbraith, a former ambbadador to Croatia and Timor-Leste's chief negotiator during the 2004 talks, described espionage as "clearly a crime" under international law.
"I was the target, therefore, the" victim "of the bugging," he told the British Guardian newspaper. "But I'm not calling for prosecution, it's just vindictive and useless, it's time to move on," he argued
US diplomat Peter Galbraith makes a point at the Aspen Institute, April 14, 2015. Photo: Youtube
Any decision to plant insects would have been approved by senior government officials, who was at the time a coalition of the Liberal Party and the Nationals – also the current incumbents
: Malcolm Turnbull, who is now the prime minister, and Julie Bishop, who controls the important portfolio of foreign affairs.
Turnbull then headed the Ministry of Mineral Resources and the Environment and was probably not consulted on the decision to listen.Bishop did not receive a full portfolio until 2006, in the dark Ministry of Education.
Two of the most i Liberal Party agents, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, and Attorney General Philip Ruddock played a key role in the negotiations. Timor Leste
Downer became the high commissioner in London, retiring in April of this year, while Ruddock retired from politics in 2016 and is now a suburban mayor. John Howard, Prime Minister at the time, also retired from politics
. Current Attorney General Christian Porter has approved the charges against both whistleblowers on the recommendation of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Prime Minister Turnbull refused to intervene or even comment on the case because it is before the courts.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is immersed in his thoughts. Photo: AAP via Reuters / Lukas Coch
Why the case should be politically embarrbading 14 years after the event is not clear, although it may be part of a larger effort to muzzle the media that fall under the purview of ministers. There has been a concerted campaign against the state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the source of the espionage story, amid allegations of bias
pending changes in the laws on espionage, which will tighten the penalties for disclosures of information deemed in the national interest, appear to be partly intended to prevent politically damaging leaks by the media.
There is little chance that the media will drop the story, even if it is held out of Wednesday 's hearings. The influential media group of Fairfax Media has published an editorial in its headlines, under the headline "The greedy flight of Timor-Leste Australia was a shame," which reprimanded the authorities. "19659002" The international ignominy is amplified by the shame of the Australian government's treatment of the man who uncovered the scandal and his lawyer, "said the editorial." Whistleblowers, sometimes to terrible personal costs, usually serve the public interest. "
With the case before the High Court, the most powerful level of the Australian judiciary and the final court of appeal, the media lobby for the hearing will be open to the public.Galbraith thinks it's essential. "The notion that you can have a secret trial, without a jury, and send someone in jail for two years – it's pretty shocking. "
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