US must respect sovereignty, Nay Pyi Taw says
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Myanmar presidential spokesperson Ye Htut warned the United States to respect the sovereignty of other countries after reports emerged that the US Embassy in Yangon was allegedly used to collect surveillance information for the National Security Agency in
“A country has the right to work for its national security, but it also needs to respect the sovereignty of other countries,” said Ye Htut, who is also the Deputy Minister of Information. “It also needs to respect the privacy of its citizens as well as citizens from other countries.”
Ye Htut told Daily Eleven that the government would do necessary security surveys not only for national security but also to protect the privacy of individuals. It is also monitoring how EU and other countries are handling the issue.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Friday that the United States is making secret surveillance through its embassies and consulates across East and Southeast Asia.
According to information disclosed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, a top-secret map lists 90 surveillance facilities worldwide, including communications intelligence facilities at US embassies in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Yangon, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
“The government cannot reveal whether they received prior reports on the alleged spying cases,” said Ye Htut.
According to a map published by Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine on Tuesday, there are eight facilities in South Asia. Australia is also aiding the US intelligence operations, the Sydney Morning Herald said.
Australian intelligence sources recently confirmed that Australia’s electronic espionage agency, the Defence Signals Directorate, said the programme involves collection of intelligence on diplomatic, political and economic issues, besides information relating to terrorism and security, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“We understand the US government’s concerns over terrorism. However, if they want to spy into someone’s house, they must give reliable reasons. If they don’t, they will be accused of doing misdeeds,” said Ye Htut.
The Herald reported that the current operations are believed to have been conducted in separate rooms in the embassies and they are able to listen to local telephone calls. These operations were reportedly supported by equipment and technical advice from the Defence Signals Directorate’s partners, the National Security Agency and Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters.
In July, Ye Htut denied that the police’s Special Branch department is still tracking the media after reports came out that police were still monitoring political activists and the media.
