National Legislative Assembly on Monday adjourned deliberations on Security Service Bill, 2014 at the third reading to Tuesday for necessary incorporation of members’ observations and recommendations.
Assembly Government Chief Whip Tulio Odongi Ayahu pronounced the deferring statement on the motion, expressing fears of misuse of powers to arrest and harass citizens.
He moved the Assembly to terminate the debate and that Security, Defence and Public Order committee headed by Samuel Duwar Deng should scrutinize members’ observations for re-tabling on later day.
Speaker Manasseh Magok Rundial sought the Augus House’s approval shown by hand claps.
Assembly Minority Leader Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec told the parliament that the Bill’s provision empowering National Security Service to arrest any suspect without warrant contradicts the Transitional Constitution.
He argued that such powers of the Security Service arresting suspects without warrant are contradictions to the country’s law, suggesting summon of suspects for investigation instead of arrest as stipulated in the Constitution.
National Security Minister Isaac Mamur Obuto reminded the Augus House of the distinction of National Security Service from other security organs like police and army, saying they have a mandate to prevent security hazards from happening.
He cited a case of a bombing suspect carrying weapons to explode as not requiring an arrest warrant, but action.
Minister Mamur also told parliament that National Security agents must act fast to prevent imminent security hazards as police investigate afterwards.
The Minister said mid December 2013 incident would be avoided if the National Security Service Bill was passed some years back.
He disclosed that they had some intelligence information before the incident, but could not act because there was no law for action.
The Augus House stressed the need to recruit educated security personnel with university degrees.