aeondaze
3rd December 2013, 07:28 PM
Last night ASIO raided a lawyer and whistleblower over the spying Australian leaders commited for commercial purposes against the East Timorese during negotiations over natural gas rights in the Timor sea in 2004.
The lawyer has taken the issue to the Hague where the East Timor government are suing Australian government over the illegality of the contract that was eventually signed.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-03/asio-raids-premises-of-whistleblower-and-lawyer/5132884
ASIO raids premises of whistleblower and lawyer
Updated Tue 3 Dec 2013, 10:53pm AEDT
ASIO agents have raided the Canberra office and home of a lawyer acting for the East Timorese government and questioned a whistleblower who says he has proof Australia bugged the East Timor cabinet during negotiations for a multi-billion dollar gas deal.
Jason Om
Transcript
EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: A bitter court battle between Australia and East Timor has taken an extraordinary turn tonight after the home , of a key lawyer was raided.
Files from the house and office of Canberra-based lawyer for the East Timorese government Bernard Collaery were removed by ASIO in the raid.
A whistleblower, a former Australian spy, has also been questioned by ASIO today.
East Timor has accused Australia of using its spies to bug the Timorese cabinet rooms during negotiations with Australia over the carve-up of multi-billion-dollar gas and oil reserves.
East Timor says Australia's actions have invalidated the resources treaty and has taken the case to the Hague.
Jason Om reports.
JASON OM, REPORTER: It's a case involving one of the world's poorest nations, billions of dollars in resources revenue and accusations of spying during sensitive negotiations.
Today the lawyer for the East Timorese government had his home and office raided in Canberra while he was overseas.
BERNARD COLLAERY, LAWYER (ABC radio PM interview): I mean, how absurd. And so I have no way at this moment of knowing the legal basis upon which this unprecedented action of raiding my law offices to procure evidence which is about to go on the table in the Hague.
The Attorney-General, George Brandis, has confirmed he authorised the search warrants on security grounds.
ASIO seized documents and electronic files.
FR. FRANK BRENNAN, EAST TIMOR ADVOCATE & LAWYER: At the home and at the office were, as I understand, a couple of young women who felt somewhat terrorised by the 15 agents that were there.
JASON OM: A number of addresses were raided and a key whistleblower in the East Timorese case was questioned but is now back home. His passport has been confiscated.
That whistleblower is said to be a retired Australian spy who could testify that Australia bugged the East Timorese government during negotiations in 2004.
FRANK BRENNAN: This whistleblower is able to provide credible, direct evidence of the bugging of the cabinet room and that that was done for commercial gain and would require the approval not only of the Director-General of Intelligence but of the requisite Australian Minister.
JASON OM: The Attorney-General says the material seized will not be given to the legal team representing Australia in the court case.
The Foreign Minister at the time of the spying claims, Alexander Downer, has told Lateline that the allegations are old. And Mr Downer says he won't comment on intelligence matters.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___________
So the guy who ordered the raids currently works for ASIO, previously he was the head of ASUS or somesuch and would have been the one to also order that they spying take place back in 2004.
How freaking unbelievable is that. But the political establishment has closed ranks and proclaimed the actions lawful abd necesary. These fascist stooges know no shame.
:o
The lawyer has taken the issue to the Hague where the East Timor government are suing Australian government over the illegality of the contract that was eventually signed.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-03/asio-raids-premises-of-whistleblower-and-lawyer/5132884
ASIO raids premises of whistleblower and lawyer
Updated Tue 3 Dec 2013, 10:53pm AEDT
ASIO agents have raided the Canberra office and home of a lawyer acting for the East Timorese government and questioned a whistleblower who says he has proof Australia bugged the East Timor cabinet during negotiations for a multi-billion dollar gas deal.
Jason Om
Transcript
EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: A bitter court battle between Australia and East Timor has taken an extraordinary turn tonight after the home , of a key lawyer was raided.
Files from the house and office of Canberra-based lawyer for the East Timorese government Bernard Collaery were removed by ASIO in the raid.
A whistleblower, a former Australian spy, has also been questioned by ASIO today.
East Timor has accused Australia of using its spies to bug the Timorese cabinet rooms during negotiations with Australia over the carve-up of multi-billion-dollar gas and oil reserves.
East Timor says Australia's actions have invalidated the resources treaty and has taken the case to the Hague.
Jason Om reports.
JASON OM, REPORTER: It's a case involving one of the world's poorest nations, billions of dollars in resources revenue and accusations of spying during sensitive negotiations.
Today the lawyer for the East Timorese government had his home and office raided in Canberra while he was overseas.
BERNARD COLLAERY, LAWYER (ABC radio PM interview): I mean, how absurd. And so I have no way at this moment of knowing the legal basis upon which this unprecedented action of raiding my law offices to procure evidence which is about to go on the table in the Hague.
The Attorney-General, George Brandis, has confirmed he authorised the search warrants on security grounds.
ASIO seized documents and electronic files.
FR. FRANK BRENNAN, EAST TIMOR ADVOCATE & LAWYER: At the home and at the office were, as I understand, a couple of young women who felt somewhat terrorised by the 15 agents that were there.
JASON OM: A number of addresses were raided and a key whistleblower in the East Timorese case was questioned but is now back home. His passport has been confiscated.
That whistleblower is said to be a retired Australian spy who could testify that Australia bugged the East Timorese government during negotiations in 2004.
FRANK BRENNAN: This whistleblower is able to provide credible, direct evidence of the bugging of the cabinet room and that that was done for commercial gain and would require the approval not only of the Director-General of Intelligence but of the requisite Australian Minister.
JASON OM: The Attorney-General says the material seized will not be given to the legal team representing Australia in the court case.
The Foreign Minister at the time of the spying claims, Alexander Downer, has told Lateline that the allegations are old. And Mr Downer says he won't comment on intelligence matters.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___________
So the guy who ordered the raids currently works for ASIO, previously he was the head of ASUS or somesuch and would have been the one to also order that they spying take place back in 2004.
How freaking unbelievable is that. But the political establishment has closed ranks and proclaimed the actions lawful abd necesary. These fascist stooges know no shame.
:o