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| Australian spy chief criticised for 'fist bump' gesture with Philippines leader Duterte | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The head of Australia’s overseas intelligence agency has been criticised after being photographed posing with a clenched fist beside the controversial Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte. | The head of Australia’s overseas intelligence agency has been criticised after being photographed posing with a clenched fist beside the controversial Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte. |
| Nick Warner, the director general of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, held talks with the leader at Malacañang Palace in Manila on Tuesday. The president’s office released video of the meeting, with separate photos showing the pair talking and making Duterte’s signature hand gesture. | Nick Warner, the director general of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, held talks with the leader at Malacañang Palace in Manila on Tuesday. The president’s office released video of the meeting, with separate photos showing the pair talking and making Duterte’s signature hand gesture. |
| Duterte has presided over a campaign against drugs in which police have killed thousands of suspected drug users and dealers who are mostly urban poor Filipinos. The recent killing of a 17-year-old student in the Philippines has sparked nationwide protest and several government investigations. | Duterte has presided over a campaign against drugs in which police have killed thousands of suspected drug users and dealers who are mostly urban poor Filipinos. The recent killing of a 17-year-old student in the Philippines has sparked nationwide protest and several government investigations. |
| In response, Duterte stood by his drug war but warned officers their duty was to arrest suspects and kill only if their lives were in danger. “You are not allowed to kill a person that is kneeling down begging for his life. That is murder,” Duterte said in a speech. | In response, Duterte stood by his drug war but warned officers their duty was to arrest suspects and kill only if their lives were in danger. “You are not allowed to kill a person that is kneeling down begging for his life. That is murder,” Duterte said in a speech. |
| President Duterte meets with Australian Secret Intelligence Service Director General Nick Warner in Malacañang pic.twitter.com/3u1sLFUEgb | President Duterte meets with Australian Secret Intelligence Service Director General Nick Warner in Malacañang pic.twitter.com/3u1sLFUEgb |
| The Labor MP Anthony Byrne, who is deputy chair of the joint committee on intelligence and security, tweeted that it was a “completely inappropriate photo for the head of one our most important intelligent services to be in”. | The Labor MP Anthony Byrne, who is deputy chair of the joint committee on intelligence and security, tweeted that it was a “completely inappropriate photo for the head of one our most important intelligent services to be in”. |
| Elaine Pearson, the director of Human Rights Watch in Australia, said it was “sickening to see head of Australia’s spy agency fist-pumping a man who has instigated the killing of thousands”. | Elaine Pearson, the director of Human Rights Watch in Australia, said it was “sickening to see head of Australia’s spy agency fist-pumping a man who has instigated the killing of thousands”. |
| A spokeswoman for Julie Bishop, the Australian foreign affairs minister, said on Wednesday the director general met leaders and ministers of regional countries regularly “to advance co-operation in information sharing to counter-terrorism”. | A spokeswoman for Julie Bishop, the Australian foreign affairs minister, said on Wednesday the director general met leaders and ministers of regional countries regularly “to advance co-operation in information sharing to counter-terrorism”. |
| According to a palace official, it was “basically a courtesy call” that “touched on regional security issues and declaration of mutual support”. | According to a palace official, it was “basically a courtesy call” that “touched on regional security issues and declaration of mutual support”. |
| It comes just a week after the federal government moved to formally list Islamic State in east Asia as a terrorist organisation, with the group responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in the Philippines. | It comes just a week after the federal government moved to formally list Islamic State in east Asia as a terrorist organisation, with the group responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in the Philippines. |
| Australia’s attorney general, George Brandis, said Isis was using the conflict in Marawi as a “call to arms”, with foreign fighters believed to be actively fighting against Philippine security forces. | Australia’s attorney general, George Brandis, said Isis was using the conflict in Marawi as a “call to arms”, with foreign fighters believed to be actively fighting against Philippine security forces. |
| “Only last week, Isil released a propaganda video of Australian-accented extremist Abu Adam Al-Australi urging fighters to go to join the conflict in Mindanao,” he told parliament on Wednesday last week. | “Only last week, Isil released a propaganda video of Australian-accented extremist Abu Adam Al-Australi urging fighters to go to join the conflict in Mindanao,” he told parliament on Wednesday last week. |
| Duncan Lewis, the head of the domestic intelligence agency Asio, has previously said one of the greatest terrorist threats to Australians is in south-east Asia. | Duncan Lewis, the head of the domestic intelligence agency Asio, has previously said one of the greatest terrorist threats to Australians is in south-east Asia. |