Press Statement by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) to allegations published in the 3-3-09 edition of the Mmegi

Republic of Botswana (10/3/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 6 of 2009 The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President “Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline”

C4) 4/3/09: Press Statement by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) to allegations published in the 3-3-09 edition of the Mmegi.

As a public body the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) is mindful of its obligation to serve the public as a whole.

We are thus anxious to avoid the appearance of engaging in any action that might be construed as being somehow partisan in nature. In this respect it is certainly not our intention to be drawn into a debate with any politician or political organisation in our country.

In the interest of accountability we, nonetheless, do feel that we have a responsibility to express our concern at remarks that were attributed in the 3/3/09 edition of the Mmegi newspaper to the leader of one of the opposition parties. In the article, it is reported of the said political personality that, at a political event: “He took a swipe at the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) saying that it kills and tortures suspects. He called on police to prosecute DIS for negligent shooting of a man in Maun during the Christmas period. He added that if DIS is not prosecuted, then the Commissioner of Police Thebeyame Tsimako should step down.”

In the above context, we feel compelled to inform the public that we are unaware of any credible allegations, much less incident, in which our staff have been implicated in the or torture or death of any suspects either in Maun or anywhere else.

We further wish to once more reassure the public that, like all other branches of Government, the Directorate of Intelligence and Security exists as a public institution working under the laws of the Republic.

Should any member of the public, including political leaders, suspect that a member of the DIS has engaged in some form of unlawful behaviour it is both their right and responsibility to report the matter to the police, who are in turn obligated to investigate any credible allegations of an offence.

Finally, members of the public are reminded that they can also lodge any complaints about our service with the Registrar of the High Court who is obliged, within seven days, to forward the same to the Chairman of the Tribunal on Intelligence and Security, with a copy to the Minister responsible.