AUSTRALIAN INTELLIGENCE MONITORED SBY’S PHONE COMMUNICATIONS
In a high profile case, diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia came under strain following revelations that Australian intelligence had targeted telephone communications of Indonesia’s sixth president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The surveillance operation took place in August 2009, during his first presidential term.
The incident only garnered public attention in November 2013 when Australia’s ABC and The Guardian published reports based on classified documents leaked by Edward Snowden, a former US National Security Agency contractor.
The documents revealed that Australia’s Defence Signals Directorate had monitored Susilo’s mobile phone activity for 15 days.
The surveillance included collecting call records to identify people who had contacted the president and those he had called.
Australian intelligence also reportedly attempted to obtain the contents of the Indonesian leader’s telephone conversations.
One such attempt was said to have failed because the call lasted less than a minute.
The surveillance operation in 2009 did not target Susilo alone.
Several senior officials and people close to him were also on the target list, including his wife Ani Yudhoyono, vice-president Boediono, former vice-president Jusuf Kalla and other government officials.
The revelations prompted strong protests from Jakarta.
In November 2013, Susilo instructed then-foreign minister Marty Natalegawa to recall Indonesia’s ambassador to Australia from Canberra.
The Indonesian government also demanded an explanation from Australia over the intelligence activities, which it considered damaging to the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Efforts to restore relations subsequently included discussions on a code of ethics and conduct governing bilateral ties.
By May 2014, both countries had made progress towards restoring relations, including discussions on Australia’s commitments and steps by Indonesia to normalise diplomatic ties.
