Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal News Blogs -> JURIST - The Paper Chase

Legal News

: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Colombia president restricts wiretapping following scandal

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Thursday announced that the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) will no longer be able to conduct wiretapping operations with just a court order, and will now require the cooperation of the National Police. This order follows allegations that the DAS illegally recorded the conversations of Supreme Court magistrates, media directors, and politicians from the opposition. According to Uribe, the police will need to verify the legality of the requests and will act as a check on the power of national intelligence gathering, improving transparency. DAS Director Felipe Munoz has acknowledged the existence of evidence supporting the allegations. Intelligence Director Fernando Tabares resigned Thursday, the fourth intelligence official to resign in the midst of the scandal.On Monday, Uribe denied ordering any of the illegal wiretaps. Last year, Uribe and his administration were cleared of similar allegations after claiming they were unaware of a plan to record journalists, opposition members, and government officials. The scandal comes at an inopportune time for Colombian officials, as Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos and Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez are trying to convince the Obama administration to continue funding an anti-drug initiative despite human rights violations, corruption and a failure to reduce cocaine production.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on February 27, 2009 (boomark / email).