The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the ministerial review commission on intelligence announced by Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils on Wednesday.
”In particular, we are pleased with the clearly transparent process and public involvement,” DA spokesperson Paul Swart said in a statement.
The commission’s aim to strengthen mechanisms of control of the civilian intelligence structures to ensure full compliance with the Constitution, legislation and the rule of law were both welcome and overdue.
The recent intelligence scandal involving the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) did not, by itself, trigger the review, but instead highlighted the need for it.
”We have been on the record long before those events on the need to review intelligence structures, especially the activities referred to as political and economic intelligence.
”We are pleased that the focus includes the topics of control over inclusive methods of investigation and the funding of covert operations.”
The first phase of the commission’s report, to be completed by June 30 2007, would enable the minister to move forward with proper control mechanisms over intelligence services operations.
”We wish the commission success in [its] important work and assure them of the DA’s support,” Swart said. — Sapa