NZ spy inquiry not enough for former Solomons official

Transcript

A special secretary to the former Prime Minister of Solomon Islands says an inquiry into New Zealand's spy agency's activities in the Pacific should include people like himself.

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Cheryl Gwyn, has announced that she will investigate complaints that the GCSB intercepted the communications of New Zealanders working or travelling in the Pacific.

Earlier this month, documents released by the United States whistleblower Edward Snowden showed that the GCSB set up a listening post at its embassy in Honiara to tap the phone network and collect emails from named Solomon Islands government employees.

One of them is Dr Philip Tagini, who says his constitutional rights were breached, and wants the Solomon Islands government to take a stand.

PHILIP TAGINI: Personally, I would think that it's something that I will be interested to know about: why it happened and the circumstances it happened under. So as a citizen, that is something I would be expecting any agency, either local or overseas, should be accountable to and be able to explain. But in terms of the process, I understand it is something that SIG (Solomon Islands government) will have a position to make on. The government has been very silent in the recent past. I'm not sure why that has been the case but since these are matters which affect the citizens of this country then that is something that is appropriate for the government to take a position on, and to deal with it at the diplomatic level or provide some sort of arrangements for that to occur. At the end of the day we want our rights to be protected and not be unduly interfered with in the process. So we expect SIG to make a position on that and for New Zealand to make those people answer for those activities.

JAMIE TAHANA: So the Solomon Islands government has been silent since these revelations came out?

PT: That is correct.

JT: Is that concerning to you? You've just said, you feel they should have a position. What do you think is going on here?

PT: I think that the government has very close relations with New Zealand, and we are very dependent on New Zealand on aid, and a lot of assistance is coming from New Zealand. The government is new - they don;t feel like rocking the boat with our donor partners. That is to a certain extent understandable. But it doesn't give anybody the right to remain silent and to be seen to be condoning activities which are clearly in breach of people's constitutional rights in this country. And the least I'd be expecting is for the government to take a position on that.

JT: Since these reports came out that have named you, have you heard anything from either the New Zealand High Commission in Honiara, or Wellington, about this?

PT: No, I have not heard anything. Everything that I've come to know is from the media. The High Commission has not attempted to explain anything.. either from New Zealand or the Solomons. SIG has not taken any interest in it. People are hoping that this will be... two or three weeks after that, it will be gone, people will forget about it. But I'm quite interested to put my hand up and say this is not appropriate, it's not the way you do business, and should not be condoned. It's dreadful and at the same time a betrayal, the fact that we have an alliance and know each other very well, we've very open and transparent about matters that affect both New Zealand and Solomons, and I think that has been exploited.