DATE=5/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249322
TITLE=BRITAIN / SPIES (L) 
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BRITAIN IS TRYING TO SHUT DOWN AN INTERNET WEBSITE WHICH 
PUBLISHED INFORMATION ABOUT ALLEGED BRITISH SPIES.  BRITAIN'S 
FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK ACCUSED A DISGRUNTLED FORMER SECRET 
AGENT OF PUTTING A LIST ON THE WEBSITE HE IDENTIFIED AS BRITISH 
INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN 
REPORTS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT -- FOR SECURITY REASONS -- IS 
TRYING TO SAY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE SCANDAL.

TEXT:  BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS THE LIST OF 
ALLEGED BRITISH SECRET AGENTS IS, IN HIS WORDS, RIDDLED WITH 
INACCURACIES.  BUT HE STILL CALLS ITS PUBLICATION AN 
IRRESPONSIBLE AND ILLEGAL ACT THAT ENDANGERS LIVES.  

                     ///  COOK ACT ONE  ///

         THE RELEASE OF ANY SUCH LIST -- HOWEVER INACCURATE -- IT
         MAY BE IS A DEEPLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND DANGEROUS ACT. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. COOK BLAMES FORMER SECRET AGENT JOHN TOMLINSON AND ACCUSES 
HIM OF HARBORING IRRATIONAL GRIEVANCES AGAINST HIS FORMER 
EMPLOYERS.  

                     ///  COOK ACT TWO  ///

         IT IS CERTAINLY THE CASE MR. TOMLINSON HAS REPEATEDLY 
         TRIED TO USE THE INTERNET OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HAS 
         SO FAR BEEN REPEATEDLY FRUSTRATED.  I HAVE  NO  DOUBT 
         THAT MR. TOMLINSON MAY BE MINDED TO TRY AGAIN AND WE 
         WILL CONTINUE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO FRUSTRATE ACTIONS TO 
         DAMAGE OUR SERVICE WHICH ARE IRRESPONSIBLE AND ILLEGAL. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO CLOSE DOWN THE WEBSITE AND 
HAS ASKED NEWSPAPERS  NOT  TO PUBLISH DETAILS OF THE LIST FOR 
SECURITY REASONS. 

MR. TOMLINSON WORKED AS A BRITISH SPY IN MOSCOW AND BOSNIA BUT 
WAS FIRED IN 1995 AFTER FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.  HE WAS JAILED 
BRIEFLY IN 1997 FOR TRYING TO PUBLISH A BOOK ABOUT HIS CAREER, 
WHICH IS FORBIDDEN UNDER BRITAIN'S OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT.  

THE 35-YEAR-OLD FORMER SPY HAS CLAIMED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT  
HAS HARASSED HIM EVER SINCE HIS DISMISSAL.  MR TOMLINSON HAS 
THREATENED TO PUBLISH THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF BRITISH SECRET 
AGENTS AROUND THE WORLD.  (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/JWH

13-May-99 10:25 AM EDT (1425 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.