Minister warns diplomatic corps of wiretapping

Minister warns diplomatic corps of wiretapping

Kurniawan Hari
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday
that wiretapping has become a global phenomenon and urged
diplomats and staff at Indonesian Embassies abroad to be on the
alert.

Hassan said the United States and its allies had developed a
system that could "monitor" over one million taps every half
hour.

After a screening process, the system selects 650,000 taps to
be filtered down to 1,000 reliable taps.

"So, don't ever think that we are secure (from information
theft). What has happened in certain places is only the reality,"
he told the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I
overseeing security and foreign affairs.

"As for the Australian case, we sent team to check it out. We
only found an alarm system. Whether there is a bugging device, we
don't know," he said, referring to an earlier allegation that
Australian authorities were tapping the Indonesian Embassy in
Canberra.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has flatly denied
the allegation, saying that the so-called bugging device was a
piece of security equipment.

Hassan also disclosed on Wednesday that the ministry had sent
teams to embassies in several European countries, the United
States and other countries to check for possible bugging.

"There are indications of bugging in those countries," he said
without elaborating.

Hassan said his office would order staff members at overseas
missions to use a special device called Crypto to avoid
information leaks.

Commission I deputy chairman Effendy Choirie of the National
Awakening Party said legislators supported the plan.

"Yes, we support it, but we have neglected to include it in
our summary," he said.

During the hearing, legislator Mashadi of the Reform faction
interrupted the minister's explanation and demanded that
government send a diplomatic note to Australia, insisting that
the country had practiced double standards.

"Australian officials display good intentions before their
Indonesian counterparts, but they keep donating money to non-
governmental organizations campaigning against Indonesia," he
said.