GUEST BLOG: Ross Meurant – SHOULD CLARKE GAYFORD BE WORRIED?

“Denmark’s secret service helped the US spy on European politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014, Danish media say.

“The Defence Intelligence Service (FE) collaborated with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to gather information, according to Danish public service broadcaster DR.

“Intelligence was allegedly collected on other officials from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. Similar allegations emerged in 2013.”    

So reports the BBC. 

The salient point here, seems to be that Danish “Intelligence Service” operatives aka spies, came to an “arrangement” with American spies, to spy on Chancellor Merkle and President Macron and, that this “arrangement” was ultra vires i.e., without approval of the Danish government. 

“Several European media outlets, including the Danish state broadcaster DR, reported that the Danish Défense Intelligence Service (FE) had helped the NSA to spy on national and foreign officials. It was said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier were among those surveilled.”    

So reports RT: 

Question?   Are our spies engaged in back-room arrangements i.e., without approval or knowledge of Government per se, with American spy agencies?

At a time when Prime Minister Jacinda is taking a bold and sensible line with NZ China relationship aka trade & export = survival, I for one have no doubt that American agencies are going out of their way to collect data on our Prime Minister.  And that means, spying on her phone, email and friends.

NZ police do send personnel to attend “law enforcement” courses in America.   Close relationships can develop from these encounters.

The Dot Com saga looms as the salutary example of NZ police acting on instructions of FBI – in a manner which was ultimately exposed as unlawful and with Judge Winklemann (at the time) rebuking a detective inspector for claiming that he needed to check with the FBI before answering question in her Court. 

Last week I penned on this platform of freedom of expression: ARE YOU BEING WATCHED? 

 In the article I penned my description of the calibre of intellect, gathered deep in the forest of NZ’s spy network.

Note:  Two former high rank cops contacted me complaining that I was too charitable in my description of these denizens James Bond’s larder.

Point.  It’s an easy pathway, for government employees of basic education nurtured in institutions which demand loyalty to a unit above the rule of law, to get lost. 

And, as Voltaire warned: Beware of the words, “internal security,” for they are the, eternal cry, of the oppressor.

Ross Meurant, graduate in politics both at university and as Member of Parliament; formerly police inspector in charge of Auckland police spies; currently Honorary consul for an African state; Trustee and CEO of Russian owned commercial assets in NZ and has international business interests.