The Director of local NGO Luta Hamutuk, Mericio Akara, urged the leaders of Timor-Leste to exercise greater caution and protect themselves from espionage by big nations especially when discussing sensitive issues such as Oil and Gas and Security strategy.
The Director’s comments came in relation to accusations against Australia of having tapped the mobile phones of Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono and his wife, including other senior key figures in this political circle, a situation that has caused tensions between the two nations.
Timor-Leste recently also alleged Australia of espionage during the oil and gas negotiations so it would get a comparative advantage during the process.
Even though Director Akara recognizes electronic surveillance and intelligence gathering through mobile phones and satellites is common practice around the world, he urged Timor-Leste to protect itself.
“Anyone can be spied on but we must contain our secrets better. We have to protect our secrets about the negotiations of the oil and gas,” added the Director from his office in Dili.
He said also other sensitive issues include security strategy on buying war ships, guns, and other military strategy warning that this type of information ought not to be for public consumption. He suggested the discussions in public of these issues be contained because communication systems are yet not under control in the country.
“We should limit speaking about sensitive issues over the mobile phone,” he added.
He said also so far in Timor-Leste it is not known the specifics of espionage conducted, how much and when and by whom because the data is not available.
“But I believe we have been spied on a lot since resistance times against Indonesia.”
Meanwhile MP Arao Noe from Commission A (Justice, Public Administration and Corruption), said the espionage that took place between Australia and Indonesia serves as lesson for Timor-Leste to exercise greater caution.
He added the State needs to prepare its own human resources in the intelligence sector and to protect its telecommunications system.
“So that key telephone lines cannot be tapped,” said MP Noe.
He added according to Timor-Leste’s Penal Code espionage is a criminal offence but that the law is only valid in-country and does not apply to other nations. He said also the espionage incident will be taken to the United National Council for consideration and perhaps those who conduct espionage will be criminalized.
A student from the National University UNTL, Political Sciences Faculty, Francisco Soares, said the experience with espionage between Indonesia and Australia should serve as a lesson learnt for Timor-Leste.
According to him, Timor-Leste has many bi-lateral relations with many countries so the leadership needs to be more cautions and limit what is says over the phone about important issues.
