29. 07. 2008

IJAS: UNCONSTITUTIONAL DECISION BY RATEL MUST BE IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAWN

Belgrade, 29.7.2008 – Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (IJAS) demands that the Republic Telecommunication Agency (RATEL) immediately revoke its rules allowing permanent state surveillance of e-mail and Internet conversations.

IJAS appeals to all governmental and non-governmental bodies and organizations active in the field of human rights and freedoms to oppose this unconstitutional and uncivilized decision by RATEL.

The rule book on technical conditions for subsystems, devices, equipment and installation of the Internet network violates the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and international conventions on human rights and freedoms and therefore must be immediately withdrawn.

It is especially inconceivable that the rule book is intended to covertly provide state security services, without any adequate decision by the Constitutional Court, with unhindered and non-selective access to citizens' communication on the Internet, as well as to allow them to collect and analyze these activities and intercept e-mails, which directly violates fundamental human rights, especially the right to privacy and freedom of expression.

Related News:

* ANEM to Condemn RATEL's Technical Conditions Document and Way of Its Adoption (ANEM Statement, July 29th, 2008)