The Hindu : International : Moscow plans anti-terror measures

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Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

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International

Moscow plans anti-terror measures

By Kevin O'Flynn

MOSCOW, SEPT. 6. Politicians in Moscow are preparing a series of new anti-terror measures that will toughen punishment for terrorist offences and allow the Government to override civil liberties, said one lawmaker.

The Russian Federation Council, the upper House of Parliament, will meet today to discuss possible new measures, said Stanislav Vavilov, head of the council's committee on law.

Russian citizens were prepared to lose some democratic rights if it ensured their safety, he said, Interfax reported.

``If there will be limits to a certain freedom and the rights of citizens then I do not see anything terrible because it is a forced measure,'' said Svetlana Orlova, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council.

After the ``barbarian terrorist act'' in Beslan Russian society needed to understand that they now lived in a different country, said Ms. Orlova.

Security is priority

Possible measures include cracking down on movement from one part of the country to another, similar to the system under the former Soviet Union.

``Questions of security have to come first and everything has to be subordinate to that,'' said Ms. Orlova. Senators will also discuss the creation of a vast counter-terrorism centre that will oversee law enforcement agencies, the Russian security services, and the Ministry of Defence's work in the North Caucasus.

The politicians were echoing the Russian President, Vladimir Putin's speech to the nation on Saturday when he said a new counter-terrorism centre was needed.

In the last four years, the federation council has increasingly become a rubber stamp for Kremlin policy. —

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