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UK in dilemma over use of torture, says MI6 chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Oct 28, IRNA -- The head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service has insisted MI6 has 'nothing whatsoever' to do with torture but said it presented a constant dilemma as the agency had to work with others which were not always 'friendly democracies'.

In the first public speech by a serving MI6 chief, Sir John Sawers Thursday also defended the use of secrecy suggesting there should be even more secrecy covering intelligence, including on the agency’s operations and methods.

'Secrecy is not a dirty word. Secrecy is not there as a cover-up. Secrecy plays a crucial part in keeping Britain safe and secure,' Sawers said.

He suggested that if MI6 was to succeed in countering threats, it was essential that its agents and other intelligence agencies could be sure their secrets were protected.

While the British intelligence services had a duty to try to ensure its partners around the world respected human rights, the MI6 chief said it presented a constant dilemma because it was also his duty to protect Britain.

'Suppose we received credible intelligence that might save lives, here or abroad. We have a professional and moral duty to act on it. We will normally want to share it with those who can save those lives,' he said.

'We also have a duty to do what we can to ensure that a partner service will respect human rights. That is not always straightforward,” Sawers argued in defence of using intelligence from suspects who might have been treated badly.

“If we hold back, and don't pass that intelligence, out of concern that a suspect terrorist may be badly treated, innocent lives may be lost that we could have saved.”

He believed that the government had to take responsibility for the more controversial decisions, saying sometimes there is no clear way forward and the “more finely balanced judgments have to be made by ministers themselves.'

The MI6 chief accepted if it was known action will lead to torture taking place, “we're required by UK and international law to avoid that action. And we do, even though that allows the terrorist activity to go ahead.”

'Some may question this, but we are clear that it's the right thing to do. It makes us strive all the harder to find different ways, consistent with human rights, to get the outcome that we want.'

In his speech in London. Sawers also called for the control principle on how shared intelligence to be respected and not undermined following court decisions on the release of information, including about the treatment of former Guantanamo detainees.

'Foreign partners need to have certainty that what they tell us will remain secret – not just most of the time but always. Without the trust of agents, the anonymity of our staff, the confidence of partners, we would not get the intelligence,” he said.

Sawers was a career diplomat, including serving as the UK’s special representative to Iraq, before taking up his post as MI6 chief last year.