From: apakabar@100-mail.clark.net (John MacDougall)
Forwarded message:
From apakabar@igc.org Mon Aug 19 00:04 EDT 1996
Date: Sun, 18 Aug 1996 19:58:50 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <199608190258.TAA20890@igc2.igc.apc.org>
From: Indonesia Publications/Task Force Indonesia <apakabar@igc.apc.org>
To: apakabar@clark.net
Subject: New book on NZ in International Spy Network
Content-Type: text
Content-Length: 3458
/* Written 7:11 PM Aug 18, 1996 by calliope@ihug.co.nz in igc:reg.easttimor */
/* ---------- "New book on NZ in International Sp" ---------- */
From: calliope@ihug.co.nz (calliope)
Subject: New book on NZ in International Spy Network
ETIC/Auckland
18 August 1996
"New Book about the international spy network - relevant to East Timor."
A book published this week: "Secret Power: New Zealand's role in the
international spy network" by long-term peace activist, Nicky Hager has re-
awakened concern here about New Zealand's role in eavesdropping on our
neighbours for the United States and Britain. The Government Communications
Security Bureau, the most secret organisation in New Zealand, and its work in
signals intelligence - electronic spying on communications - is now open to
scrutiny thanks to painstaking investigative research.
Electronic spying is sophisticated - it can filter out the communications of
targeted groups or individuals by the use of 'key words'. Trade unions or
groups working for change could be subject to electronic spying.
The carefully documented facts about New Zealand's intelligence gathering, in
particular the operations of the Waihopai satellite tracking station and the
Tangimoana signals intelligence 'listening' station are not being disputed.
However, there is controversy about whether New Zealand Prime Ministers knew
what was going on in the GCSB. Former PM David Lange (1984-89) claims to be
outraged that he was not told that New Zealand was passing on information from
Waihopai electronically without 'any editorial judgement'.
However, whether or not Prime Ministers have been 'in the know' there has
never been any accountability to the New Zealand people. Waihopai and
Tangimoana have been the focus for regular peace and anti-military alliance
demonstrations in the 80s and 90s.
The new book emphasises the close connection between the Australian DSD -
Defence Signals Directorate and the GCSB and their exchanges of information
about countries in the region including Indonesia. The DSD monitors Indonesian
satellite communications from its base at Shoal Bay,Darwin.
There are several references to East Timor:
- Intercept officers at Tangimoana pick up radio messages and communications
from a large section of the globe including East Timor - "although it cannot
be picked up very well."
- Two New Zealand Navy frigates have GCSB mobile stations to listen into the
VHF, cellular telephones and other communications within short range as they
pass by countries such as Papua New Guinea and East Timor.
- In the 1980s the GCSB received regular reports of Indonesian Government
activities in West Papua and East Timor from the DSD.
- Nicky Hager's comment "The Governments of Australia and New Zealand knew far
more about Indonesian actions in these areas than they choose to reveal
publicly."
Until very recently successive New Zealand Governments have insisted that the
"occupation is irreversible". David Lange along with his predecessors placed
great public reliance on the reports of the New Zealand diplomats who visited
East Timor on brief "guided tours" where they were shown agricultural
developments and told that the resistance was ebbing.
"Secret Power: New Zealand's role in the International Spy Network" can be
ordered from 'One World Books' Box 68-419, Newton, Auckland, New Zealand. NZ
$34.95. Fax: (09) 377-5541 Ph: 377-1367.
Maire Leadbeater: ETIC Auckland New Zealand