New terrorism unit due under DIS
Innocent Selatlhwa | Thursday September 14, 2017 16:25
Also, the amendments will see a new unit under the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) being introduced. The CTA was first passed in August 2014, but the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration already feels amendments are necessary. The minister, Eric Molale, in gazetting the amendments, said while the current Act provides for measures to prevent and combat acts of terrorism including financing of terrorism, a mutual evaluation assessment by the East and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group found deficiencies.
The amendments seek to establish a Counter-Terrorism Fusion Centre (CTFC) under the DIS, which will be staffed by security personnel seconded from various security organs such as the Botswana Defence Force and the police.
It will also be headed by a director and include officers seconded from the Financial Intelligence Agency. “The functions of the centre shall be to provide intelligence for the formulation of strategic operational plans for the civilian and military counter-terrorism efforts of the government and for the effective integration of counter-terrorism intelligence and operations across investigating authorities,” the amendments read.
The centre will have the primary responsibility within Botswana for conducting net assessments of terrorist threats. “The centre, through the DIS director general, shall serve as the principal adviser to the President on intelligence operations relating to counter-terrorism. It will integrate all intelligence possessed or acquired by government pertaining to terrorism and counter-terrorism,” the amendments read.
The amendments also envisage a 16-member National Counter-Terrorism Committee chaired by the permanent secretary to the President and deputised by the Botswana Defence Force commander. The committee, whose secretary will be the CTFC director, will focus on the development and implementation of the national approach to counter-terrorism and the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to the suppression of terrorism financing and related resolutions.
Members of the committee include permanent secretaries of foreign affairs, nationality and immigration, defence, transport and communication, the Bank of Botswana governor and others. Meanwhile, the amendments also seek to introduce penalties of P5 million for various offences. These include individuals who commit or facilitate the commission of an act of terrorism, for the benefit of, or on behalf of, or at the direction of a terrorist group possibly facing life imprisonment and/or a fine of P5 million.
Also, those who deal with property or facilitate transactions, whether knowingly or unknowingly in the furtherance of terrorism, would equally face life imprisonment and/or a fine of P5 million. The amendments also give the minister powers to freeze funds and financial assets of certain individuals and prevent entry into, exit or transit through Botswana. It will also preventing the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms or military equipment to certain individuals.