DATE=5/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / AUSTRALIA / L-O
NUMBER=2-262219
BYLINE=ANNE BARKER
DATELINE=CANBERRA
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO: Australia denies allegations it has flown spy 
planes through Indonesian airspace to monitor military 
communications.  Reports in a British magazine and the 
"Australian Financial Review" have accused Australia 
of using air force planes to intercept military 
intelligence.  But, as Anne Barker reports from 
Canberra, it appears any spying has been done from 
international airspace.

TEXT: The British magazine "Flight International" 
reports two Australian Air Force Orion planes were 
secretly converted early last year  to monitor 
Indonesian radio and mobile phone signals. The 
report's author, Peter La Franchi, says the spy 
missions were launched to monitor events in East Timor 
before and after last year's independence ballot.  The 
magazine says the flights continue.

            // LA FRANCHI ACTUALITY //

The particular operation that's now underway, though 
at a reduced level, commenced around February last 
year.  It's still focused on East Timor, though my 
sources or some of my sources on this story indicate 
to me that the aircraft have flown missions against 
military installations and military signals on the 
island of Java.

            // END ACTUALITY

Australia denies sending spy planes into Indonesian 
airspace.  Defense Minister John Moore has issued a 
statement rejecting the allegations, but will not 
elaborate on Australia's surveillance capabilities.  
Mr. LaFranchi says the planes have monitored 
Indonesian intelligence from international airspace.
            // LA FRANCHI ACTUALITY //

With the E-P Three aircraft, it's not necessary to 
penetrate Indonesian airspace.  They take off from R-
A-A-F Base Tindal.  They fly up to the edge of 
Indonesian airspace and then they sit out there for 
ten-12 hours, at a time, and one aircraft relieves the 
other so you can keep up a 24-hour-a-day operation, if 
you need to.

            // END ACTUALITY //

Mr La Franchi says Australian defense sources have 
told him Indonesia has taken counter measures against 
the spy flights.

The allegations put a new strain on Australia's 
relationship with Indonesia, which has deteriorated 
substantially since Australia led a force of 
international troops into East Timor last September. 
Australia's Prime Minister John Howard has repeated an 
invitation to Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid 
to visit Australia, in an effort to normalize 
relations. But President Wahid has continually 
deferred such plans and has yet to announce if he will 
visit.  (signed).

NEB / AB / WD



11-May-2000 06:47 AM EDT (11-May-2000 1047 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.