Civil Society Institute, Human Rights Monitoring Institute and Transparency International-Lithuania propose five ways to solve the current conflict or “cold war” between politicians and law enforcement officials.
The current conduct of politicians combined with the leadership of the Prosecutor-General’s Office and Special Investigation Service lead to a deadlock. On the one hand, law enforcement institutions have impermissibly invaded politics. Such activities pose serious danger to the democratic political system and human rights. On the other hand, the politicians avoid addressing obscure connections between politics and business. Instead of employing parliamentary control of law enforcement institutions, the politicians attempt at using different forms of pressure. This threatens the viability of democracy.
The path to resolution of this conflict will determine our course in future: whether personal and political interests, or mature democratic order and rule of law will prevail. In this struggle, human rights and other public values are seriously undermined. Therefore, three civil society representatives propose five steps to solve the standoff.
The politicians should:
1. stop attempts to manipulate law enforcement agencies but ensure their autonomy instead;
2. stop publicly criticising law enforcement institutions, and rather define clearly their responsibility for incompetence and illegal actions;
3. stop complaining about the lack of powers; and ensure parliamentary supervision of law enforcement institutions;
4. enforce their own ethical standards;
5. strengthen the powers of courts, not prosecutors.
The above proposals have been discussed in a press conference in Open Society Fund Conference Hall at 11:30 am today.
See more in Press Releases (in Lithuanian Pranešimai spaudai).
Please find related articles in Lietuvos rytas, Delfi. Also read about the event in Delfi, Omni.
The five ways how to solve the conflict here.
© 2012 Human Rights Monitoring Institute