Monday, July 21, 2014

MH 17-Najib's deal leaves Australia out on a limb: Abbott let down by DAFT,Bishop ,Peta & co?



NOTE
For the sake of efficiency , I am copying and pasting an email posted to recipients on my mailing list .


That Malaysian PM Najib concluded  a deal with the rebels/separatists/bastards even as 
 Julie Bishop was doing her thing at the UN, illustrates the point raised below, that while Tony Abbot rightly demanded that Russia cooperate in the matter of MH 17, he was likely to find himself out on a limb while the other parties involved approached the matter in the context of their own national interest. 

Australians ought to be concerned that an understanding of the competing priorities seemed to be lacking in Abbott's words and actions. Again, he seems to have been let down by his advisers. 
END

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ganesh Sahathevan <ganesh.sahathevan@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 1:04 PM
Subject: Standing up to Putin-Europe needs Russia's energy, and Malaysia its fighter jets? Why Australia might be left out on a limb
To:


NOTE 
While Tony Abbott has rightly demanded that Russia take responsibility and cooperate with other interested countries in the 
the MH 17 investigation, it does look as if Malaysia and Europe may have other priorities to consider.
Europe's dependence on Russian gas has been well documented.
Malaysia's reliance on Russia for air defence is less clear, especially in context of this intriguing report:


MH17 Rosmah Mansor has sent word to Russian President Vladimir Putin to call her husband, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, over the MH17 tragedy.

According to a brief report in Sin Chew Daily website, Rosmah said she had asked someone, who is close to her as well as Putin, to convey the message.
However, there is no mention as to who this person is.
The report stated that Rosmah is hoping Putin would take the initiative to call Najib and explain the issue in order to calm down Malaysians, who are enraged over the incident.
Sin Chew also did not state where she had made the remarks.
Rosmah was present at a Wanita Umno function in Kuala Lumpur earlier butBernama, which reported on the event, made no mention of her commenting on the ill-fated plane.
Upon completing Maghrib prayers, Najib received a call from Putin.
However, the report was removed from Sin Chew website later in the day.

Meanwhile, Abbott and Julie Bishop have had no luck getting hold of their Russian counterparts-and are instead being publicly scolded  by the Russians:



 

Malaysia Invests In Sukhoi Fighter Readiness

PARIS AIR SHOW » 2013
Malaysia has allocated RM300 million to increase the combat readiness of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKMs.
Malaysia has allocated RM300 million to increase the combat readiness of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKMs.
June 17, 2013, 4:10 AM
The events in Sabah, Malaysia, this past March, when local forces conducted Operation Daulat used combat jets to quell the resistance of the Filipino gunmen on the island of Borneo, may have prompted a spate of arms sales to that country and her closest neighbors. The armed forces do have a big wish list for weapons, but procurement processes for the most expensive and longest-lead items are likely to be launched properly only after the general elections in Malaysia later this year. In the meantime, the ministry of finance and the royal treasury–the two main watchdogs–are loosening their grips somewhat so as to give the air force the means to improve its fleet readiness.
In late March, Sukhoi won a three-year contract called “The supply of articles, services and technical assistance for Su-30MKM aircraft” worth RM300 million (more than U.S.$100 million), three times the allocation over the previous three-year period. Respective documents were signed by MOD secretary general Datuk Dr. Haji Ismail Haji Ahmad, with Sukhoi deputy general director for marketing Alexander Klementiev and director for after-sales support Vyacheslav Lozan. The increased spending is meant to boost combat readiness of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Su-30MKM fleet from the current level of 65 to 70 percent to 85 percent in the “near term” and eventually increase this to 100 percent. TheRMAF’s 11th Squadron stationed at Gong Kedak has 18 heavyweight twin-engine vectored-thrust fighters received new from Irkut’s IAZ factory in 2007-2011. After the manufacturer’s guarantee period expired, most of the Russian support team departed Gong Kedak AFB, leaving only three of their number–and they then left this past January following expiration of the previous service contract.
“The notable increase in spending on our services will allow our specialists to more closely monitor the aircraft operations and shorten the reaction time to RMAF requests for spares and repair services. Importantly, the new contract calls for a permanent presence of Sukhoi advisors and technicians at Gong Kedak,” Klementiev told AIN. The contract calls for deliveries of additional aerodrome equipment, increase of spares and expendables stocks, carrying out on-site repairs of onboard equipment, consultancy and training forRMAF maintainers.
As part of the aircraft delivery contract, Russia built the Sukhoi Technical Center (STC) at Gong Kedak. It was completed and handed over to the Malaysian government, which appointed Aerospace Technology Systems Corp. (ATSC) to be the operator. To work at full capacity, STC’s warehouses need to be filled with spares, expendables and maintenance tools, as necessary, which will be done under the new contract. The facility has several workshops and will permit RMAF and ATSC to perform maintenance, except major overhaul of airframes, engines and the most complex parts of onboard systems. Sukhoi assessed ATSCstaff members as “well educated” but indicated they need more training in performing manufacturer-prescribed work on Russian-made jets.
RMAF crews have mastered aerobatics and use of vectored thrust, attracting praise from the Russian air force commander Gen. Victor Bondarev, while he was attending the LIMA 2013 show. Following training of the initial group of Malaysian fighter pilots, Sukhoi and Irkut ceased such services four years ago. They hoped the customer would award them a new contract for pilot training “sometime in the future to ensure that the RMAF 11th Squadron crews are able to use the Su-30MKM capabilities to full extent,” including application of precision-guided munitions. “This would require us to send a group of highly skilled engineers and pilots there who have the complete knowledge of the type’s functional capabilities,” said Klementiev.
ATSC was founded in 1994 as a joint venture with a 70-percent stake held by National Aerospace and Defense Industries, and the rest by Russian partners, and runs the MiG Technical Center at Kuantan AFB and MiG Component Repair Center at MEC City. The company claims to have mastered checks on the Su-30MKM after each 200 flight hours and servicing procedures on the airplane’s OEPrNK optronic aiming and navigation complex system, OLS optical locator, N011M “Bars” fire control radar and fly-by-wire systems, as well as AL-31FP engine module changes.
Despite the increase in funding for RMAF, salesmen remain cautious about prospects of replacement for 18 MiG-29N/NUBs delivered in 1995. “We know about the plans of the military, but we also hear about the economy slowdown and the respective position of the ministry of finance. Cost-effective upgrade solutions may win over,” Victor Komardin, deputy head of Russia’s Rosoboronexport arms sales agency, told AIN.
Guided by this knowledge, Rosoboronexport is offering an upgrade package to the RMAF’s 18-year-old MiGs, which will boost their capability and extend their lifetime to 40 years. Should the customer decide to replace the MiGs with newer aircraft, Russia is ready to supply additional quantities of advanced Su-30MKMs or even consider a request for a fifth-generation fighter. “We are keen to take part in any competition in Malaysia that is officially opened,” Komardin said. Other candidates to replace RMAF MiG-29s are the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale and Saab Gripen.
FILED UNDER: 
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Duncan Lewis could not uncover what ABC 4 Corners did with less resources, and he is now to head ASIO?

NOTE

The appointment of Ducan Lewis as head of ASIO seems to underscore why form will always win over substance. 
While Lewis is highly credentialed and has experience as a field commander, that , as I have said before,does not make him a competent spy master.
His incompetence was described in an article on my blog published on  WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

People Smuggling: Did Australia's National Security Adviser learn anything in Malaysia?


The Sydney Morning Herald reported on April 25,2009:
WAVES of Australia-bound asylum seekers crossing from Malaysia to Indonesia have prompted the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to send the national security adviser, Duncan Lewis, to talk with Malaysian officials about counter measures.
Mr Lewis was accompanied by the head of Customs, Michael Carmody, and senior immigration and Australian Federal Police officers. Before leaving Kuala Lumpur yesterday, members of the delegation said the meetings with Malaysian officials were "positive".
"There has been agreement at a conceptual level for increased co-operation and engagement to combat people smuggling," one member said.


On February 1 2012 a boat capsized of the east coast of Malaysia.The wording of reports regarding that incident by Malaysian media, which are essentially state controlled, is instructive:

EIGHT foreigners drowned in Malaysian waters early yesterday while attempting to sneak into Australia to seek greener pastures.
District police chief Superintendent Che Mahazan Che Aik said when police reached Telok Semayong about 8am, they saw eight bodies washed ashore while further off, the 12 survivors were spotted in a group.
“We believe the foreigners were trying to leave the country illegally. They were using Malaysia as a spring-board,” he said.
Initial investigations also revealed that the passengers had paid US$8,000 (RM24,000) each for the journey from their country to Australia.
The 12 who were rescued were sent to the district police station to assist investigations while the bodies were sent to the district hospital for post-mortem.
(by Sam Bak Heng, 8 drown off Johor;New Straits Times,02 February 201)



Eight people drowned, 11 others were rescued while six more are still missing, all foreigners, after their boat capsized off Teluk Semayong waters, Sedili Besar, near Kota Tinggi Wednesday morning. Kota Tinggi Police Chief Supt Che Mahazan Che Aik said the boat was believed to be illegally ferrying men from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to a neigbouring country when the boat capsized.
(Report in the Borneo Post, 2 February 2012, quoting the national wire news service, Bernama)


Clearly, what Australia regards as "asylum seekers" Malaysia regards as opportunists.
As far as Malaysian police are concerned the main issue here is "illegal ferrying".
The persons being ferried are not being treated as asylum seekers, refugees, or anything of that sort but rather suspects or accomplices in a crime.


How then did Duncan Lewis and party come to the conclusion that "there has been agreement at a conceptual level"?
Lewis is now Secretary , Department of Defence, and the post of National Security Adviser has yet to be filled. Nevertheless, as NSA he was , in essence, the country's chief spy.
As Sally Neighbour put it:
The most recent initiative is the appointment by the former Rudd government of a National Security Adviser (NSA), who works out of the prime minister’s office and chairs a new National Intelligence Coordination Committee, to ensure the agencies are “closely aligned [and] effectively integrated”. Australia’s first NSA, the former SAS commander Brigadier Duncan Lewis.....
(the post) centralises control in the prime minister’s office ... the position is entirely outside the accountability umbrella of IGIS.
(Sally Neighbour, Hidden Agendas,The Monthly, 2010-11-04)

Despite these advantages, it does appear that the NSA learnt nothing in Malaysia, or of Malaysian attitudes to what Australia considers asylum seekers. Judging from the SMH report, and from the Gillard government's handling of the the "asylum seeker" issue it does appear that the present administration is light years away from understanding the problem of illegal migrants.Pretending that this simply another aspect of the white man's burden is an idea that has long passed its due date.
The full extent of Lewis's incompetence was laid bare by Sarah Ferguson's Captain Emad story, where she detailed the operations of a people smuggling ring headquartered just 15 minutes from the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur:
 
The ABC has revealed that people smugglers connected with a deadly disaster at sea are now residing in Australia under refugee visas. 
According to passengers on Emad's boat, in detention in Australia, Abdullah al Sharifi talked openly about his work as a smuggler with Captain Emad in Malaysia and Indonesia. 
"He said, 'I was with Captain Emad in Malaysia. He brought me here for free and we work together at this smuggling business'," passenger Rahim said.

A different life

It is not clear what Captain Emad told Australian immigration officials to convince them he was a genuine refugee in need of protection.
What is known is that before he set up shop in Indonesia, he had spent a large portion of his life in downtown Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
His legitimate business in Malaysia was perfume. By 2005 he owned four perfume shops in Kuala Lumpur and he still owns at least one

END 
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Andrew Constance Could Not Be Trusted With Fines, Should Not Be Trusted With Treasury

by Ganesh Sahathevan

The new NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance's  methods of improving NSW  state revenue at all costs,  disregarding even the law,  while  in his former finance and services portfolio, makes him unsuitable to be put in charge of the more senior Treasury portfolio.

As Minister For Finance Mr Constance sought to increase state revenue by enforcing parking fines. In 2012 alone he added $ 177 million to state revenues by imposing parking fines on apparent over-stayers at parks and hospitals, hitting the sick, elderly , and students.
When questioned on that strategy  Mr Constance said:

"If a driver believes they have been fined incorrectly, they can seek a review from the Office of State Revenue (OSR)."

However, there is evidence that the OSR , led by the Commissioner For Fines, Tony Newbury, and Mr Constance, appear to have in place a scheme where reviews are routinely rejected and the appellants told instead to seek redress via the legal system , in the expectation that the costs of legal challenge will discourage doing so, and the fine paid without challenge.

In a recent incident where this writer was involved, an attempt was successfully made to make Mr Constance and Mr Newbury reveal  their methods when  justifying  a fine.Email queries were sent Mr Newbury , Mr Constance , and then Premier, O'Farrell.

In response, Mr Newbury, in a letter sent on behalf of Constance and O'Farrell, admitted that:

a) they could not detail the actual facts of the offence upon which their penalty was premised.
They had earlier determined to justify the penalty on a fabricated story which involved  a child that was supposed to be the driver's , the child climbing out of the car,and  child walking then walking towards the car ; all of which was false.

b)  there was disagreement between the time of offence stated in the penalty notice, and their own photographs which they furnished as evidence of the crime. In fact , the times were clearly transposed, raising the issue of whether the time of offence had been deliberately misstated to justify the offence.
Nevertheless, this was explained away as a failure to adjust their cameras for daylight saving, but then;

c) could not say  how the time of offence was actually determined

Given that most fines, including the one described above, are for a few hundred dollars and given that legal fees are usually upward of a thousand, most fines are paid without any legal challenge, regardless of the facts.Indeed judges are angered by litigants who disregard  "commercial realities".
However, Mr Constance does not seem to have realized that being a politician, the court of public opinion is what really matters to his future. If the best he can do is cheat to raise public revenue, it is unlikely that he possesses the skills necessary to balance the state's books.
END


Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, January 9, 2014

An example of the debate among Malays illustrates why MGG Pillai was heard, and today's non-Malay commentators are not

NOTE 

While many would be aware that MGG Pillai and I had , shall we say, a major difference of opinion in the last few years of his life, I must say that he was not afraid to participate in debates, private and public , like the ones described below by Rocky Atan. 
He did take sides, and that did become an issue, but he was at least brave enough to do so.
True, he started out as a journalist when the races were less divided,and the leadership more inclusive, but then , he continued to speak and write as he did despite the changing environment.Doing so, he   remained  relevant till the day he died.
On the other hand, today's non-Malay commentators seem more interested in making a play of having "controversial" views,and then of hiding, or remaining quiet, for fear that "they" are listening, thus giving themselves a degree of importance they simply do not have. Put in another way, the irrelevant are made even more irrelevant by their ego. 


Thursday, January 09, 2014


The photograph that spooked Annie and some others

Got a few calls to ask me if "you bloggers" are revolting against the PM. Even prominent businessman TF was concerned enough to call me for the first time in over a year: "Why are the bloggers whacking Najib ... except you?" The latest caller, a little lady called Annie, said she became particularly worried after reading Apanama's Najib Worse Than Pak Lah? People familiar with the Malaysian blogosphere would equate Apanama with critical-but-polite postings, a cool head among today's very temperamental and crazily critical English-driven bloggers. But Apanama's latest posting was so hard-hitting it seems that even the punching machine Syed Akbar Ali was quoting him line for line.  
"And, aiyooo,  my dear Rocky did you see the photograph published by OutSyed The Box's!?" I promised her I'd check out the two blogs as soon as I get back to my den from a dinner with some consultants. 
And, ah, no wonder Annie was spooked! Here's the picture Syed Akbar published in his posting Apanama makan Roti Teloq - Ampat Biji!! 
Superstitious people avoid threesome shots
People would read all kinds of things upon seeing this photograph and you can't blame them if they do. But I'd tell Annie that things are not always what they appear to be. Tun Daim Zainuddin, the man flanked by OutSyed The Box and Apanama in the picture, engages bloggers every now and then over breakfast. He would even invite some of the mainstream editors from time to time. But no, Daim's not the "unseen hand" some people think is behind recent incessant attacks on Najib, his wife, and family and friends. Or on Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary, for that matter (see Syed Akbar's posting on the former nemesis h e r e).
I have had the privilege of joining the Tun for roti canai in some very public places where we exchanged stories and gossips. Daim is an excellent story teller. The last time I was invited to breakfast with Tun Daim, I was late by a few minutes. After I had taken my allocated seat next to the former Finance Minister, my ex boss AKJ asked those who were pro-Najib to move over to Daim's side, with me and Syed Akbar (who was seated to Daim's left), while those who were not for the PM would sit opposite Daim, with AKJ. Just like a school debate. A lof of things were said in jest like that but we did talk about the serious stuff too. 
When we're not meeting Daim, we bloggers would be meeting anyone who wants to engage us. But not everyone wants to engage us. 
As for Apanama's hard-hitting posting, it is indeed a reflection of what a lot of people feel. Tan Sri Zainal Rampak, the trade union leader, thinks Najib is not getting a true picture of what's happening on the ground and has asked me to "please tell Datuk Seri Najib to go down to the people."  
Apanama wants Najib to stop talking about transformation plans and start transforming. The PM can sack some aides and reshuffle his Cabinet, for a start.
"We need men and women of character, capability and common sense to steer this nation forward ... some of your cabinet members have become laughing stocks. Quite a number of the better cabinet members are finding it hard to hold their heads up in public because of the clowns among them."  
But please do read what Apanama has to say right to the end of his posting so that you won't miss the message:
But time is running out, Mr Prime Minister
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Djoko Suyanto shows his hand, and falters: Abbott may have been handed another advantage

Djoko Suyanto , who only last week made clear that Dewi Fortuna  had not the authority to speak on the matter of boat people, has since revealed that it is he who is directing  Marty Natalagewa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in their handling of the spying issue.


In doing so, however , Djoko may have faltered in his directive to the Ministry 
requesting that it consider reducing the number of Indonesian intelligence officers 
at its Canberra post. Given the extent to which the Indonesians rely on HUMINT, it is 
difficult to understand how Djoko's strategy would advantage Indonesia.



Menko Polhukam: isu penyadapan akan ganggu hubungan Indonesia-Australia

Senin, 18 November 2013 19:24 WIB | 6263 Views
Pewarta: Syaiful Hakim
Jakarta (ANTARA News)  - Menteri Koordinator bidang Politik, Hukum dan Keamanan (Menko Polhukam), Djoko Suyanto, mengatakan Kementerian Luar Negeri akan memanggil Dubes RI di Canberra ke Jakarta untuk "konsultasi" dan mengkaji kerja sama pertukaran informasi antar pemerintah RI dan Australia, termasuk penugasan pejabat Australia di Kedubes Australia di Jakarta.

Djoko dalam keterangan tertulisnya di Jakarta, Senin, mengaku isu penyadapan kepada para pejabat pemerintah Indonesia oleh Australia akan mengganggu hubungan bilateral kedua negara.

Menko Polhukam, mengatakan telah melakukan langkah koordinasi dengan Menteri Luar Negeri Marty Natalegawa terkait berita penyadapan para pejabat Pemeritah Indonesia oleh Australia di media Australia.

Langkah-langkah yang dilakukan, kata Djoko, pertama bahwa pihak Kementerian Luar Negeri akan menghubungi Menlu Australia Julie Bishop untuk menyampaikan bahwa isu tersebut akan membawa dampak yang tidak baik terhadap hubungan bilateral Indonesia dan Australia.

Kedua, lanjut Djoko, meminta Australia untuk menyampaikan official and public explanationmengenai komitmen untuk tidak melakukan penyadapan.

Ketiga, Kemlu akan memanggil  Dubes RI di  Canberra ke Jakarta untuk "konsultasi" dan mengkaji kerja sama pertukaran informasi antar pemerintah RI dan Australia, termasuk penugasan pejabat Australia di Kedubes Australia di Jakarta.

"Kemlu juga akan mereview seluruh kerja sama pertukaran informasi dan kerja sama lainnya dengan Australia," tegas Menko Polhukam.

Seperti diberitakan media, intelijen negeri Kangguru mencoba menguping pembicaraan telepon yang dilakukan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dan istrinya serta beberapa menteri senior.

Dokumen rahasia yang dibocorkan oleh Edward Snowden dan diterima media penyiaran Australia Broadcasting Corporation serta harian The Guardian itu menyebutkan Presiden dan sembilan orang terdekatnya sebagai target pengintipan.

Pengungkapan tersebut muncul saat hubungan bilateral dua negara tengah meruncing terkait tudingan mata-mata sebelumnya dan isu mengenai penanganan manusia perahu yang melewati Indonesia menuju Australia.

Dokumen-dokumen tersebut menunjukkan bahwa badan intelijen elektronik Australia, Defence Signal Directorate, melacak aktivitas telepon seluler Yudhoyono selama 15 hari pada Agustus 2009 saat Kevin Rudd dari Partai Buruh menjabat sebagai perdana menteri.

Dalam daftar target pengintipan tersebut juga terdapat nama Wakil Presiden Boediono yang pekan lalu berada di Australia, mantan wapres Yusuf Kalla, jurubicara bidang luar negeri, menteri bidang keamanan serta menteri komunikasi dan informasi.

ABC mengatakan salah satu dokumen itu berjudul "3G impact and update" yang memetakan upaya intelijen Australia untuk mengimbangi pertumbuhan teknologi 3G di Indonesia dan seluruh kawasan Asia Tenggara.

Terdapat sejumlah pilihan pemintasan dan direkomendasikan untuk memilih salah satu diantaranya untuk diaplikasikan kepada target --dalam hal ini pemimpin Indonesia, demikian dilaporkan ABC.

Pengungkapan terakhir dokumen Snowden tersebut muncul hanya beberapa minggu setelah adanya laporan yang mengklaim bahwa pos-pos diplomatik Australia di luar negeri, termasuk Jakarta, terlibat dalam jaringan luas pengintaian yang dipimpin AS, yang memantik reaksi kemarahan dari Menteri Luar Negeri Indonesia Marty Natalegawa.

Laporan ini kemudian disusul dengan laporan lain dari the Guardian awal bulan ini bahwa Australia dan Amerika Serikat menjalankan operasi pengintaian bersama terhadap Indonesia saat digelarnya pertemuan iklim PBB di Bali pada 2007.
Editor: Unggul Tri Ratomo
COPYRIGHT © 2013
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, November 18, 2013

The Aus-Indo Spying Issue: Indonesia proposed a compromise that would allow status quo ante

On 15 November 2013 the Bahasa Indonesia detikNews reported a press conference in Melbourne called by Indonesian Vice President Boediono. The press conference was called after a visit to Canberra where he had met with Tony Abbott. Boediono said that the issue of Australian spying on Indonesia  had been raised, and that he, Boediono ,  had proposed  a compromise. 

The fact that Boediono proposed the compromise suggests that
Indonesia has more to lose from any disruption to existing spying and intelligence arrangements.This is evident from a translation of this excerpt from the detikNews report:




Secara resmi, Indonesia meminta agar ada perbaikan dalam proses pengumpulan informasi sehingga tidak merugikan kedua negara dan merusak hubungan yang sudah terjalin baik selama ini. Abbott merespons baik terhadap permintaan tersebut.

"Ide untuk ke depan ada suatu sistem di mana informasi yang dikumpulkan tidak dipakai untuk hal-hal merugikan kedua belah pihak. Nampaknya beliau tidak menolak. Artinya beliau sendiri pandangannya ke arah situ," jelasnya




Translated :
Officially , Indonesia has asked that intelligence obtained not be used in
a manner that might be detrimental to either country . Abbott responded positively to that suggestion.



" The idea going forward is for a system where information collected will not be used in any way that will harm either country. Abbott did not object. I take that to mean that his thinking is along the same lines" , he (Boediono) explained.
 

The Australia News Network reported similar but omitted reference to the fact that Indonesia had suggested a compromise:


Indonesian vice president Boediono plays down asylum seeker and spying disputes with Australia

Updated Sun 17 Nov 2013, 10:40pm AEDT

Vice president raises espionage concerns

Dr Boediono said he raised concerns with Mr Abbott about allegations the Australian embassy in Jakarta had been used for espionage.
"It is a public concern in Indonesia. And therefore we should find some joint ways to allay public concern," he said.
"Of course, we didn't go into details, but the willingness is there to look to the future with cooperation that will not risk the interests of each parties."
In an interview with the ABC's 7.30 following his meeting with Dr Boediono, Mr Abbott would not comment directly on the reports, but noted spying is common practice in international affairs.
"All countries, all governments, gather information. That's hardly a surprise," Mr Abbott said.
"One of the things that I've offered to do today in my discussions with the Indonesian vice president is to elevate our level of information sharing, because I want the people of Indonesia to know that everything, everything that we do is to help Indonesia as well as to help Australia."
Dr Boediono would not be drawn on whether Indonesia had ever spied on Australia.
"I certainly cannot guarantee anything about that kind of thing," Dr Boediono said.
"Certainly, as part of the Indonesian government, whatever we do in our embassy in any country will follow international law."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-17/an-boediono-feature-james/5097288

Jumat, 15/11/2013 16:07 WIB

Laporan dari Australia

Wapres Boediono Paparkan Pembicaraannya dengan PM Abbott soal Penyadapan

Rachmadin Ismail - detikNews
Melbourne - Wakil Presiden Boediono menyampaikan langsung keberatan Indonesia terhadap penyadapan intelejen kepada Perdana Menteri Australia Tony Abbott. Apa reaksi Abbott menanggapinya?

Di dalam sesi jumpa pers bersama wartawan Indonesia di hotel Hyatt Melbourne, Australia, Jumat (15/11/2013), Boediono menjelaskan hasil kunjungan kerjanya selama lima hari di Australia yang agendanya adalah kerjasama pendidikan, riset dan budaya.

Namun, dalam pertemuan dengan Abbott, isu penyadapan oleh Australia ikut dibahas. Secara langsung, Boediono mengemukakan keberatan pemerintah dan masyarakat RI terhadap tindakan tersebut.

"Ini concern publik dari kita dan tidak akan hilang begitu saja," kata Boediono.

Secara resmi, Indonesia meminta agar ada perbaikan dalam proses pengumpulan informasi sehingga tidak merugikan kedua negara dan merusak hubungan yang sudah terjalin baik selama ini. Abbott merespons baik terhadap permintaan tersebut.

"Ide untuk ke depan ada suatu sistem di mana informasi yang dikumpulkan tidak dipakai untuk hal-hal merugikan kedua belah pihak. Nampaknya beliau tidak menolak. Artinya beliau sendiri pandangannya ke arah situ," jelasnya.

Menurut wapres, bakal ada pembahasan lebih lanjut soal sistem itu. "Sementara ini belum ada yang konkrit, nanti ditindaklanjuti dengan semacam negosiasi mengani sistemnya," tambahnya.

Isu penyadapan mengemuka setelah Edward Snowden, mantan pegawai CIA membocorkannya. Media Australia mengangkat isu ini dan direspons keras oleh Indonesia.

Hingga kini, pemerintah Australia tak membantah atau membenarkan soal aktivitas itu. Saat diwawancarai ABC Australia, Abbott hanya mengatakan semua negara menggali informasi, namun bukan untuk kejahatan. Informasi yang digalinya dari Indonesia juga untuk kepentingan membantu Indonesia sendiri.



Ikuti berbagai peristiwa penting hari ini hanya di "Reportase Sore" Trans TV pukul 16.30 WIB
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, September 20, 2013

Australian foreign policy stupidity on display: High Commissioner to Malaysia honours Feisal Rauf, controversial imam accused of embezzlement

The pictures , with links for further information, and the stories that follow should be enough to embarrass any government, but then Australia's Department Of Foreign Affairs And Trade is not known for its sophistication. 
Incidents of this type arise when one tries impress without actually having any understanding of the matters at hand.


High Commissioner Miles Kupa presents a gift to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Chairman of Cordoba Institute.
High Commissioner Mr Miles Kupa (left) presents a gift to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Chairman of Cordoba Initiative (Photo taken 24 July , 2013)
(http://www.malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/media_iftar.html)


Just before the above, in February 2013:

Accused nonprofit embezzler imam Feisal Abdul Rauf steals away with wife amid claims he swindled $3 million in donations

The controversial Rauf made headlines following 9/11 after announcing plans to build a mosque at 51 Park Place, less than three blocks from Ground Zero. Rauf is alleged to have rerouted cash given to the Cordoba Initiative and the American Society for Muslim Advancement to line his pockets.

By , AND / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Updated: Thursday, February 7, 2013, 1:00 AM
Daisy Khan, co-founder of the Cordoba Initiative, speaks during a news interview in reaction to a speech by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a dinner in observance of Iftar at Gracie Mansion Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010 in New York. Bloomberg said not allowing the mosque to be built two blocks from ground zero would be "compromising our commitment to fighting terror with freedom." (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, Pool)

Frank Franklin II/AP

Daisy Khan, co-founder of the Cordoba Initiative, is noted in a $20 million lawsuit alleging her husband, imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, pilfered $3 million from two nonprofits — including her own.

The took separate vacations — and cars.
Former “Ground Zero” imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife bolted their New Jersey home about 20 minutes apart Wednesday without addressing the pending $20 million lawsuit against him.
The ski-capped Rauf, 64, climbed into a waiting Lincoln Town Car, with his chauffeur and quickly zipped away from the two-story North Bergen house.
Spouse Daisy Khan fled earlier in her four-door sedan, pulling out of the long driveway past a Daily News reporter. Neither said a word before heading off.
RELATED: 'GROUND ZERO' MOSQUE SCAM
Rauf leaving his North Bergen home and getting into a limousine Wednesday morning. He's under fire for allegedly stealing from Muslim nonprofits.

Richard Harbus/for NY Daily News

Rauf leaving his North Bergen home and getting into a limousine Wednesday morning. He's under fire for allegedly stealing from Muslim nonprofits.

The blinds in their house were drawn tight one day after a Westchester County couple accused Rauf of redirecting more than $3 million in donations to a pair of nonprofits into his pockets.
According to the Manhattan lawsuit, Rauf used the ill-gotten cash to splurge on gifts and luxury vacations with a Jersey gal pal.
The imam, who became a polarizing national figure in the debate over the planned mosque near the World Trade Center site, also spent money on a sports car, real estate and other unspecified entertainment, the suit charged.
Daisy Khan told The News she had never gone on vacation with Rauf, who relaxed abroad with his purported girlfriend Evelyn Adorno, said a lawyer for plaintiffs Robert Deak and wife, Moshira Soliman.
RELATED: GONZALEZ: COURT FIGHT WITH 'GROUND ZERO' IMAM TAINTS BOTH SIDES
The imam slipped past a Daily News reporter Wednesday morning, refusing to acknowledge the lawsuit.

Richard Harbus /for NY Daily News

The imam slipped past a Daily News reporter Wednesday morning, refusing to acknowledge the lawsuit.

Khan and Rauf were both deeply involved with the allegedly looted nonprofits, the Cordoba Initiative and the American Society for Muslim Advancement.
The two groups were created to battle anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.
An attorney for Khan said the charges against her husband were bogus, adding they planned a “vigorous defense.”
The Internal Revenue Service, citing agency policy, declined comment Wednesday on the lawsuit’s allegation that Rauf lied on his nonprofits’ income tax returns in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
RELATED: IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF OUT AS LEADER OF PLANNED MOSQUE NEAR GROUND ZERO: OFFICIALS
An artist rendering of the proposed Park51 community center and mosque, a project which has struggled to raise money.

AP

An artist rendering of the proposed Park51 community center and mosque, a project which has struggled to raise money.

He was ousted in January 2011 from the proposed $100 million Park51 community center. Around the same time, Rauf’s feud with his friends-turned-plaintiffs began.
Deak accused Rauf of blowing $167,000 from their donations, along with another $3 million given by the Malaysian government. The Malaysian Embassy had no comment Wednesday on the alleged scam.
Fund-raising at Park51 remains stalled as the group seeks an application for tax-exempt status and continues a court fight with Con Ed over back rent on the property.
Park51 developer Sharif El-Gamal, for a second straight day, did not return phone calls about Rauf.
But Mayor Bloomberg, once a backer of the planned mosque, didn’t give the mosque and cultural center much of a chance.
“Their plans were to raise $100 million. (They raised) $18,000,” the mayor said Wednesday. “I think . . . that’s enough of a story line.”
With Erin Durkin and Richard Harbus

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mosque-bandit-steals-wife-pilfering-allegations-article-1.1257309#ixzz2fUVomeD6




Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)