The Ombudsman asked legislators for the file of the bill to reform the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS). The initiative is being processed in the Legislative Assembly.
At the discretion of the entity, the initiative is not in line with human rights, it does not limit the intelligence objectives and it establishes a set of goals that leave an excessively large space to justify any action of intelligence.
The project does not establish a clear division between intelligence and police work. The legislators should take the necessary steps so that the project does not end up creating a parallel structure that benefits the secret of their activities to act outside the legal procedures,”
states the report sent by the Ombudsman.
Among other things, the report also indicates that the initiative does not limit the activities of information gathering, nor does it establish monitoring mechanisms and internal control or control of the executive. Instead, it subjects the Institutional Strategic Intelligence (DIEN) to a legislative or judicial review, including the approval of the appointment of its director.
The head of Frente Amplio, Edgardo Araya, said that these remarks are worrying and that they will be bringing the issue for internal discussion in the party.
Araya explained that the first step is to review the type of processes in the initiative, to determine whether they are able to introduce changes or work on a replacement text via Article 137.
Liberationist legislator, Juan Luis Jiménez, added that it is necessary to keep the DIS in the hands of the Presidency of the Republic.