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Europe told not to paralyse democracy
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski warned Council of Europe member states on Friday against paralysing democracy in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. "We must be careful to avoid that the fight against terrorism and organised crime do not paralyse the smooth functioning of a normal democratic society. We must not lose what constitutes the basis of a democratic society," said Kwasniewski, whose country has chaired the Council's Committee of Ministers since November. "Given that criminal activity transcends national borders, we must reinforce cooperation among our intelligence services and better control the flow of people and merchandise," Kwasniewski told the meeting in Warsaw. But he stressed that any moves to clamp down on organised crime and terrorism must be taken with respect for individual freedoms.

Interior ministers and other high-ranking government officials from the 46-member Council of Europe have been meeting, together with members of international organisations such as Interpol and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in Warsaw since Thursday. Ministerial-level meetings at the conference are being held behind closed doors and are focussing on special investigative techniques, the protection of witnesses, money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The officials are also debating two draft conventions aimed at nipping in the bud terrorism and other forms of serious crime in the early, preparative stages. The draft convention on the prevention of terrorism proposes criminalising acts deemed as laying the groundwork for a terrorist attack, such as provocation of terrorism, recruitment and training. On Thursday, the Council's Secretary General Terry Davis urged delegates to move quickly and decisively against terrorism. "We can't wait for another Madrid or Beslan," he said, calling on delegates "to provide a message of support for the new instruments" being debated at the two-day meeting.
There's the rub, isn't it? You have to balance individual liberty against collective security, and that's a balance delicate enough to make King Solomon blanch. Nobody wants to have his door kicked in by Interpol, and nobody wants to be blown up raving Islamists. So how do you produce a workable system that avoids both?

Posted by: Fred 2005-03-19
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=59257