DATE=1/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225389
TITLE=GERMANY / EAVESDROPPING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=BONN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT HAS APPROVED
CONTROVERSIAL NEW LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW POLICE TO PLANT
ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVISES IN THE HOMES OF SUSPECTED CRIMINALS.
AS VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, CRITICS SAY THE LAW WILL
DILUTE GERMANY'S STRONG, POST-WAR GUARANTEES OF PRIVACY AND CIVIL
LIBERTIES.
TEXT: THE LAW PASSED THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT BY
A TIGHTER THAN EXPECTED MARGIN -- THIS AFTER HOURS OF SOMETIMES
LIVELY DEBATE.
IF IT PASSES THE UPPER HOUSE, THE BILL WILL RESTORE EAVESDROPPING
POWERS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE THE NAZI ERA.
HEINER GEISSLER, A MEMBER OF CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S
PARLIAMENTARY COALITION, ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED TO PROTECT CIVIL
LIBERTIES.
// GEISSLER ACT, IN GERMAN, FADES //
"BUT I REPEAT," MR. GEISSLER EMPHATICALLY TOLD THE PARLIAMENT --
"THIS LAW IS NEEDED FOR NOTHING LESS IMPORTANT THAN FIGHTING
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY."
ALTHOUGH THE NEW LAW WILL REQUIRE POLICE TO OBTAIN A JUDGE'S
PERMISSION TO PLANT BUGGING DEVISES IN PRIVATE HOMES, CIVIL
LIBERTIES GROUPS AND SOME OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS SAY THE BILL WILL
DILUTE STRONG CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS ENACTED AFTER WORLD WAR
TWO.
MANFRED SUCH, A LAWMAKER FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL "GREENS" PARTY, IS
A LEADING CRITIC OF THE BILL.
// SUCH ACT IN GERMAN -- ESTABLISH AND FADE OUT //
THESE SURVEILLANCE MEASURES, HE SAID, ARE AIMED AT SUSPECTS THAT
UNDER THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED NOT
GUILTY.
GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE OF PRIVATE HOMES
WILL ONLY BE USED IN RARE CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY SAY SUCH EXPANDED
POLICE POWERS ARE NEEDED TO FIGHT WHAT THEY CONTEND HAS BEEN A
EUROPEAN-WIDE SURGE IN ORGANIZED CRIME.
IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, CIVIL LIBERTIES ADVOCATES VOW TO TAKE
THEIR FIGHT TO THE COUNTRY'S SUPREME COURT BECAUSE. THEY SAY
CONVERSATIONS WITH DOCTORS, JOURNALISTS OR LAWYERS NEED TO BE
PROTECTED.
THE CHAIRMAN OF ONE GERMAN CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUP, WOLF DIETER
NARR, SAYS HE OBJECTS TO THE BILL BECAUSE IT EXPANDS THE POWERS
OF THE STATE OVER THAT OF CITIZENS.
// NARR ACT //
THE BIGGEST DANGER WILL BE THE ARBITRARINESS -- THE ROOM
OF MANEUVERING OF THE EXECUTIVE IS BECOMING LARGER ON
THE ONE SIDE. ON THE OTHER SIDE THE CITIZENS --
ESPECIALLY THE CONCERNED CITIZENS, THE POLITICAL
CITIZENS -- WILL BECOME MORE SKEPTICAL IN REGARD TO WHAT
THE GERMAN DEMOCRACY AND THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS ALL
ABOUT.
// END ACT //
DESPITE THEIR CONCERNS, EVEN CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS REJECT ANY
SUGGESTION THAT THE BILL WILL BRING A RETURN OF THE KIND OF
WIDESPREAD ABUSES THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE NAZI ERA.
WHAT THEY ARE HOPING FOR IS THAT THE BILL WILL BE DEFEATED IN THE
UPPER HOUSE AND WILL THEN GO TO A SPECIAL COMMITTEE THAT WILL
ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS ... AND LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE MEASURE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF
16-Jan-98 11:12 AM EST (1612 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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