|
Dispute over Measures against Organized Crime
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/07/09-12:54
 The political wrangling fuelled after the government'Αs unveiling
measures against organized crime and terrorism keeps going. The
majority of the opposition parties (PASOK, KKE and SYRIZA) claimed that
the new provisions make all citizens suspects, limiting their personal
rights. LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) agreed with the measures, which
the government said that they will contribute to the drive to combat
crime, either deriving from criminals, like the gang that was recently
broken up, or terrorists. The measures taken to curb corruption within
the prison system after the breaking-up of the 16-member gang will be
raised at a special sitting scheduled for coming Thursday.
The debate on the bill providing for the identification of mobile
phone users kicked off in Parliament amidst reaction by the opposition
parties. The bill includes two measures against crime. The measures
included are amendments on the operation of camera and the creation of
a DNA bank.
Transport Minister Evrupidis Stylianides stressed that the
government is after reducing the implications the use of mobile phone
can have on national security and crime.
PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) deputy Christos Papoutsis
dismissed the measures as ineffective. Similarly, KKE (Greek Communist
Party) and SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) said they pose a
threat to personal rights. LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally), on the other
hand, took a positive stand. The measure will take effect three months
after the voting of the bill, so that mobile operators can have them
time to makes changes in the software. The bill will be put to a vote
on Wednesday.
In the meantime, 32 Socialist cadres filed an interpellation to the
Ministers of Interior and Justice on the replacement of the EYP
(National Intelligence Service) head, following the leak of
conversations held among people accused of abducting shipping magnate
Periklis Panagopoulos.
|
