Indonesia Summons Singapore And S. Korean Ambassadors

Jakarta, Nov 28 (Antara) - The Foreign Affairs Ministry has summoned the Singaporean and South Korean ambassadors to Indonesia in response to reports of their alleged involvement in wiretapping activities by Australia and the United States. "We have already demanded an explanation from the Singaporean and South Korean ambassadors about their involvement in using fibre optic cables for wiretapping activities conducted by Australia and the United States," Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said here on Thursday. During the meeting, the Singaporean ambassador to Indonesia asked for a clarification since he considered Singapore`s involvement in the wiretapping to be an unfounded accusation, Marty stated. "South Korea`s ambassador, however, did not deny the reports," he added. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would take steps based on the United Nations` resolution on anti-wiretapping and rights to privacy, he pointed out. Regarding Indonesia`s bilateral relationship with Australia, Marty remarked that the government has stopped three cooperation programs, including information and intelligence data exchange and joint military exercises, and is reviewing the partnership between the two countries. According to the documents leaked by former US National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden and quoted by Australian media, Singapore`s military intelligence helped American, British and Australian intelligence agencies collect data through primary undersea cable communication networks that connect more than 30 countries, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Britain and France. The media reports also mentioned the role of the South Korean intelligence agency in the wiretapping of communication networks that run through Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.