Non-Government-Organisations with New Zealand connections are being sent a stern message from the Israeli intelligence community apparently in retaliation for New Zealand openly trying two suspected Israel intelligence connectives on passport charges.

South East Asian based non-government organisations are specifically being targeted.

In April, in a sting titled Operation Cloak, New Zealand Police arrested two suspected Israeli agents on illegal passport charges. Israel asked the New Zealand Government to keep details of the arrest secret and for the matter to be handled diplomatically. New Zealand refused the request.

Scoop understands Israel is now applying pressure against NGOs based overseas who are operated by New Zealanders with strong connections to the current New Zealand Cabinet.

Most recent is the Cambodian-based NGO called Global PAC (Global Protect All Children, see global-pac.org), set up to overtly expose human trafficking and child prostitution in the Indo-Chinese region.

Global Pac says it is committed to child protection “through a two pronged approach, one which emphasises surveillance and reporting of suspected offenders and the other of which emphasises the development of vocational skills programmes for those who are victims of sexual abuse or at risk of abuse in the Third World eg ‘street children’.”

Global PAC is one NGO being investigated for covert activities. It is interesting however, the investigation is a media-manipulated push originating from the sidelines of Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondent Club (HKCC).

The HKFCC has long been a hub used by governments determined to plant covert intelligence into the media. It is also an intelligence conduit for respected media outlets such the United Kingdom’s Janes. Janes on-sells intelligence to subscribers, businesses and government clients.

Global PAC’s front-end is run by New Zealanders and Canadians. One of the ex-pat New Zealanders has strong connections to the New Zealand Government. It is therefore, arguably, a ripe target for aggrieved Mossad-connected individuals to parade their message.

Phnom Penn Post journalist Richard Woodd, formerly the editor of Kapiti’s local newspaper, began asking questions, apparently suggesting that Global PAC is a shady charity group and probable front for more covert intelligence activity. According to one Scoop contact, Woodd suggested that Global PAC was a front for raising funds in Cambodia funds for covert activity.

It is believed Woodd was ‘primed’ by information originating Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondent Club.

Recently, Woodd agreed to meet with Global PAC’s representatives, prior to publishing his ‘expose’. Also attending that meeting however, to Woodd’s surprise, was Phnom Penn’s Brigadier General Thong Lim, who holds office with the NGO. Woodds was assured the claims he was told were false. To date, Woodd has backed off publishing the article, replying to Scoop enquiries that his investigation is ongoing so has no comment to make.

Meanwhile, information originating from Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondent Club suggests that the outer layers of Global PAC’s humanitarian work masks the heart of a covert intelligence group.

Scoop understands that Australian-born Martin Merz, a successful businessman who exports shoes from China to New York, and who consequently is deeply rooted within the Foreign Correspondent’s Club’s networks, holds keys to where the claims originated. Merz also was formerly employed by Taiwanese vice-presidential candidate, James Soong.

The New Zealand intelligence community, based in Asia, believes with certainty that NGOs operated by Kiwis are coming under Israeli intelligence pressure.

One well positioned Scoop contact says: “This is a matter of record as well as personal experience and the experience of those close to me.” This contact says this pressure is linked directly to Israel being angered that the New Zealand Government insisted the illegal passport case against two Israelis in Auckland be aired publicly.

Another Asia-based Scoop contact with both government and non-government-organisation ties says: “I have noticed a trend. New Zealand busts (an alleged Mossad operation) and IMMEDIATELY they (Mossad) begin a multi-pronged harassment campaign on anything related to kiwis, whether that be New Zealand customs agents or New Zealand NGO workers in the Asia pacific region.

“According to our information – the HKFCC (Hong Kong Foreign Correspondent’s Club link) was a set up. ‘M’ (Editor’s note: name withheld) has been communicating with (Israeli agent) based in Guangzhou China.”

Has the HKFCC been dabbling in the world of spooks and shady sub-government organizations? Scoop investigations show an Israeli passport ring operates in Asia, acquiring illegal passports for operatives, allegedly like Zev Barkan, the man wanted by New Zealand Police for skipping New Zealand once Operation Cloak was sprung.

Scoop understands Barkan is being investigated by Macau and Chinese Immigration for his movements in April/May. The investigation includes his alleged use of the US passport in the name of Zev Barkan and a second Canadian passport in the name of Kevin Hunter - which was stolen in Guangzhou China on April 11th. Contacts suggest too that relative information has passed through the HKFCC.

Investigations show one thing certain: that the lines between Asian-based western media and the western alliance intelligence community are blurred - and that increasingly, New Zealand’s independence from the smoke and mirrors game played out by the world’s powers is being corrupted.

Deaf Ears: Speaker On Support For Mojo Mathers

Scoop Audio: In a press conference this afternoon Speaker Lockwood Smith defended his handling of requests for support for profoundly deaf MP Mojo Mathers' participation in Parliament, and said he was "deeply concerned" by the way the issue had been portrayed.

Earlier today the Greens said they had been told they would have to fund support Mathers requires out of their own budget. More>>