Stratfor spied on activists of Bhopal tragedy for Dow Chemicals: Wikileaks

US-based security think-tank Stratfor spied for the Dow Chemicals on the activists of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, WikiLeaks alleged on Monday as the whistleblower website started publishing millions of confidential emails of this prominent private intelligence analyst group.

The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011, WikiLeaks said.

"They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency," WikiLeaks alleged.

Stratfor was not immediately available for its reaction on the allegations by WikiLeaks. But the website of this Texas-based organisation said that it is offering all its contents for free.

"I wanted to warn you that individuals continue to send out false communications that appear to be from Stratfor. These spam emails may contain malware and attachments, and may attempt to lead you to websites that look like our own. They may also attempt to convince you to provide your private information," says Stratfor CEO George Friedman on its website.

The emails posted by WikiLeaks on its website, revealed that Stratfor not only provided to Dow Chemicals and Union Carbide the analysis of the daily developments on the case related to the Bhopal Gas tragedy in Indian courts, but also the activities including the travel plans and like where they are staying or what they plan to do.

PTI has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of these emails.

"[Y]ou have to take control of him. Control means financial, sexual or psychological control... This is intended to start our conversation on your next phase," CEO George Friedman to Stratfor analyst Reva Bhalla on 6 December 2011, on how to exploit an Israeli intelligence informant providing information on the medical condition of the President of Venezuala, Hugo Chavez.

Bhalla, notably reported and provided intelligence information on India and South Asia related issues.

WikiLeaks alleged that these files reveal how Stratfor has recruited a global network of informants who are paid via Swiss banks accounts and pre-paid credit cards.

"Stratfor has a mix of covert and overt informants, which includes government employees, embassy staff and journalists around the world," it alleged.

Wikileaks alleges that these material shows how a private intelligence agency works, and how they target individuals for their corporate and government clients.

"For example, Stratfor monitored and analysed the online activities of Bhopal activists, including the "Yes Men", for the US chemical giant Dow Chemical.

"The activists seek redress for the 1984 Dow Chemical/Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal, India. The disaster led to thousands of deaths, injuries in more than half a million people, and lasting environmental damage," it said.

WikiLeaks alleged that whereas large numbers of Stratfor's subscribers and clients work in the US military and intelligence agencies, it gave a complimentary membership to the controversial Pakistan general Hamid Gul, former head of Pakistan's ISI intelligence service, who, according to US diplomatic cables, planned an IED attack on international forces in Afghanistan in 2006.

Stratfor's internal email classification system codes correspondence according to categories such as 'alpha', 'tactical' and 'secure'.

The correspondence also contains code names for people of particular interest such as 'Hizzies' (members of Hezbollah), or 'Adogg' (Mahmoud Ahmedinejad), WikiLeaks alleged.

The whistleblower website said that Stratfor did secret deals with dozens of media organisations and journalists. WikiLeaks, claimed, to have also obtained Stratfor's list of informants and, in many cases, records of its payoffs, including USD 1,200 a month paid to the informant "Geronimo" , handled by Stratfor's Former State Department agent Fred Burton.

WikiLeaks has built an investigative partnership with more than 25 media organisations, including The Hindu from India. The organisations were provided access to a sophisticated investigative database developed by WikiLeaks and together with WikiLeaks are conducting journalistic evaluations of these emails.