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by afew  Friday's Le Monde rolls out the latest revelations in the Clearstream Affair, this time pinning responsibility closer than ever to Jacques Chirac. Here on the right -- in an old photo from his James Bond days, for this man is now in retirement after a career as a top figure in military intelligence -- is the spy from whom the damaging data flow, Philippe Rondot. As a special adviser, with the rank of general, to the Minister of Defence, Rondot was several times called on to carry out delicate inquiries in the upper spheres of power. Recently he was questioned by a magistrate investigating the use of Clearstream "material" to smear prominent figures, among them Nicolas Sarkozy. His testimony was leaked. So were the personal notes he took while working on the Clearstream Affair. These are the sources that keep on giving damning evidence against Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and President Jacques Chirac. Rondot claims to know nothing about the leaks. That he left the MoD on bad terms last December, without even the usual little farewell drinks party, presumably has nothing to do with it. Not that it matters. What's new? [editor's note, by Jerome a Paris] See an update on today's news in the comments below. Update [2006-5-14 3:49:37 by afew]: Rondot gives newspaper interview, see comments below.
Le Monde today publishes new excerpts from Rondot's notes, which were seized by the investigating magistrate Jean-Marie d'Huy. These excerpts knock holes in the explanations advanced by Villepin and Chirac concerning the parts they played in the smear. It's important to note that Rondot was an officer under the orders of the Minister of Defence, not the Foreign Minister (Villepin at the time), and only the President, as Chief of Armies, could order him to work for him and Villepin, cutting the MoD out of the loop -- which is what happened :
30 janvier 2004, il relève que la ministre de la défense "a très mal pris la décision du président que je traite en direct cette opération sans lui rendre compte". Selon la fiche de M. Rondot, cette consigne a été signifiée à Mme Alliot-Marie par M. Chirac en personne, le 28 janvier dans l'après-midi. Dès le 21 janvier, le général avait noté, pour lui-même : "Le PR voulait un traitement direct avec D de V à son seul niveau." on the 30 January 2004, [Rondot] notes that the Minister of Defence [Michèle Alliot-Marie] "reacted very badly to the President's decision that I should handle this operation directly without reporting to her [MAM]". According to Rondot's note, this order was made known to Mme Alliot-Marie by M Chirac in person, in the afternoon of the 28th of January. Already, 21 January, Rondot had written in his notes : "The PR [President of the Republic] wanted direct processing with D de V at his level alone". Rondot's notes make it clear that, in investigating the anonymous allegations against a list of politicians, he was working for Villepin and Chirac, and that the principal target was Sarkozy. Rondot's impression that the accusations were bogus grew, and he mentioned his doubts; he was not listened to. His notes show his rising concern that the affair could damage the President. He noted, in July 2004, that Dominique de Villepin said to him:
"Si nous apparaissons, le PR et moi, nous sautons..." "If we become visible [in this affair], the PR and me, we're out..." They're now so visible everything else fades into the background. The question is when and how they'll be thrown out. Villepin is pretending nothing's happening, for the moment, while Chirac must be counting the days to the end of his mandate and hoping he can hang on. Japanese Connection He's probably also hoping he can negotiate something to keep him out of trouble with the law once he loses his presidential status. Another investigation of Rondot's, in 2002, again directly required by Chirac in person, is boomeranging back. The President asked Rondot to find out if officers of the DGSE (intelligence service) had been digging up dirt on him with a view to helping Jospin (Socialist, then Prime Minister) win the presidential election that year. Rondot was asked about this by Judge d'Huy, and here's the relevant piece of the magistrate's report, as published by the Canard enchaîné :
 PARIS HIGH COURT............................REPORT OF WITNESS STATEMENT
Using intelligence gathered by Gilbert Flam or his colleagues, the aim was to implicate the President by means of a bank account that the President held in a Japanese bank. This account was supplied by the regular payment of a very large sum, I don't recall the exact figure, originating from a cultural foundation of which M CHIRAC was a board member. The documents you seized at my home indicate that this account was was opened at the SOWA BANK and was credited with a total sum evaluated by the DGSE as 300 million francs [€46mn]. To my knowledge, this account was opened in 1992. Rondot's manner of speaking here is clear: at no time does he suggest the information about the Japanese account was false or rigged, and at no time does he use the conditional. He suggests there may have been an intention to use the intelligence against Chirac, not that it was baseless. What do we know about the Sowa Bank?
From IOL : Tokyo Sowa - which was founded in 1950 and took its name in 1989 - was ridiculed as "the main bank of Ginza and Akasaka," two upscale Tokyo districts known for watering holes catering to politicians and the business elite. Tokyo Sowa Bank's former boss Shoichi Osada was known for calling himself a friend of France, throwing lavish receptions for Chirac on his frequent visits to Japan and lending money for French-oriented projects. Osada was awarded France's prestigious Legion of Honor in 1994, nine years before he was convicted and exited the limelight. Known for his dictatorial business style, Osada aggressively sought profits by lending for real estate deals and to consumer loan firms in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as land prices skyrocketed during the bubble economy. But Osada, who became the president of the bank in 1969 and chairman in 1975, was criticised for opaque management and allegedly using Tokyo Sowa for personal gains. As the Japanese economy sagged after the bubble burst in the early 1990s, the bank tried to collect its debts. But it also kept lending to firms with which Osada had personal connections, dooming it to loss and leading the government to declare it a failure in 1999. Osada and his associates were indicted in connection with illegal moves to make the bank appear has if it had adequate capital. The court found them guilty in 2003, and Osada received a suspended sentence. Tokyo Sowa's assets were transferred to a new bank established by US fund Lone Star and was renamed Tokyo Star Bank. (Note in passing: Lone Star, a Texan offshore investment fund <crunch munch skitter crunch> seems to be having some problems, at least in one of its Asian investment theatres.)
From The Scotsman :
However, little is known about their friendship, except that in 1994 Mr Chirac, who was at the time mayor of Paris, spent a night at the tycoon's luxury hotel on the Japanese island of Awashima, the same year that Mr Osada was awarded the Légion d'honneur in France.
According to an article in the Japanese tabloid newspaper Shukan Gendai in 1999, Mr Osada also provided a young Japanese actress as company for Mr Chirac during his stay on Awashima.
The Canard enchaîné reports that Chirac has visited Japan around fifty times over the past years. Rumours award him a secret mistress and child in the country. Quite officially, and no rumour involved, he likes Sumo wrestling. He must like it a lot ;) |
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Clearstream Blues, Japanese Connection - Villepin Chirac Update | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
Clearstream Blues, Japanese Connection - Villepin Chirac Update | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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Mr Chirac has for about 50 years been a close friend of Mr Osada, who famous for his flamboyant lifestyle and his collection of about 100 Impressionist paintings.