DATE=1/16/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-225389

TITLE=GERMANY / EAVESDROPPING (L ONLY)

BYLINE=KYLE KING

DATELINE=BONN

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO: THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT HAS APPROVED 

CONTROVERSIAL NEW LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW POLICE TO PLANT 

ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVISES IN THE HOMES OF SUSPECTED CRIMINALS.

 AS VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, CRITICS SAY THE LAW WILL 

DILUTE GERMANY'S STRONG, POST-WAR GUARANTEES OF PRIVACY AND CIVIL

LIBERTIES.



TEXT:  THE LAW PASSED THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT BY

A TIGHTER THAN EXPECTED MARGIN -- THIS AFTER HOURS OF SOMETIMES 

LIVELY DEBATE.



IF IT PASSES THE UPPER HOUSE, THE BILL WILL RESTORE EAVESDROPPING

POWERS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE THE NAZI ERA.



HEINER GEISSLER, A MEMBER OF CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S 

PARLIAMENTARY COALITION, ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED TO PROTECT CIVIL 

LIBERTIES.



              // GEISSLER ACT, IN GERMAN, FADES //



"BUT I REPEAT," MR. GEISSLER EMPHATICALLY TOLD THE PARLIAMENT -- 

"THIS LAW IS NEEDED FOR NOTHING LESS IMPORTANT THAN FIGHTING 

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY."



ALTHOUGH THE NEW LAW WILL REQUIRE POLICE TO OBTAIN A JUDGE'S 

PERMISSION TO PLANT BUGGING DEVISES IN PRIVATE HOMES, CIVIL 

LIBERTIES GROUPS AND SOME OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS SAY THE BILL WILL 

DILUTE STRONG CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS ENACTED AFTER WORLD WAR 

TWO.



MANFRED SUCH, A LAWMAKER FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL "GREENS" PARTY, IS

A LEADING CRITIC OF THE BILL.



       // SUCH ACT IN GERMAN -- ESTABLISH AND FADE OUT //



THESE SURVEILLANCE MEASURES, HE SAID,  ARE AIMED AT SUSPECTS THAT

UNDER THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED  NOT  

GUILTY.



GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE OF PRIVATE HOMES 

WILL ONLY BE USED IN RARE CIRCUMSTANCES.  THEY SAY SUCH EXPANDED 

POLICE POWERS ARE NEEDED TO FIGHT WHAT THEY CONTEND HAS BEEN A 

EUROPEAN-WIDE SURGE IN ORGANIZED CRIME.



IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, CIVIL LIBERTIES ADVOCATES VOW TO TAKE 

THEIR FIGHT TO THE COUNTRY'S SUPREME COURT BECAUSE.  THEY SAY 

CONVERSATIONS WITH DOCTORS, JOURNALISTS OR LAWYERS NEED TO BE 

PROTECTED.



THE CHAIRMAN OF ONE GERMAN CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUP, WOLF DIETER 

NARR, SAYS HE OBJECTS TO THE BILL BECAUSE IT EXPANDS THE POWERS 

OF THE STATE OVER THAT OF CITIZENS.



                         // NARR ACT //



         THE BIGGEST DANGER WILL BE THE ARBITRARINESS -- THE ROOM

         OF MANEUVERING OF THE EXECUTIVE IS BECOMING LARGER ON 

         THE ONE SIDE.  ON THE OTHER SIDE THE CITIZENS -- 

         ESPECIALLY THE CONCERNED CITIZENS, THE POLITICAL 

         CITIZENS -- WILL BECOME MORE SKEPTICAL IN REGARD TO WHAT

         THE GERMAN DEMOCRACY AND THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS ALL 

         ABOUT.



                          // END ACT //



DESPITE THEIR CONCERNS, EVEN CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS REJECT ANY 

SUGGESTION THAT THE BILL WILL BRING A RETURN OF THE KIND OF 

WIDESPREAD ABUSES THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE NAZI ERA.



WHAT THEY ARE HOPING FOR IS THAT THE BILL WILL BE DEFEATED IN THE

UPPER HOUSE AND WILL THEN GO TO A SPECIAL COMMITTEE THAT WILL 

ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS ... AND LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE MEASURE.  

(SIGNED)



NEB/KBK/PCF



16-Jan-98 11:12 AM EST (1612 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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