Eavesdropping over telephone

That the government remains deadly serious about its plans, which would violate the privacy of every mobile phone user in the country, is highly regrettable. We urge the government to rethink its position.

Official eavesdropping is a terrible idea on a number of counts. The first is that it is easy to predict that the technology might be used to conduct witch-hunts against political opponents. The new power to listen in on private conversations will inevitably lead to an explosion of corruption and blackmail and extortion. In short, the law will succeed only in enabling a whole new category of rent seeking. Worst of all, there is zero evidence to suggest that the measure will be of much use to combat the terror threat.

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The government would do well to remember that holding a two-thirds majority in parliament does not justify the ramming through of undemocratic and unpopular legislation that could violate the legitimate rights and expectations of the public.

The government's action here is reminiscent of the controversial crossfire deaths and shows its disregard for individual liberties and due process of law. And as with crossfire, the government will leave behind it a precedent that others may well abuse in the future.

If this is the case, then this government will be held responsible for the damage to the constitution and our liberties that its actions have caused and will remain answerable to posterity for what it has left behind.

By no means will security from the terrorists be enhanced by the measure, but insecurity as to our rights and the government's ability to curtail them as it wishes will definitely expand.

It is still not too late for the government to pull back from this undemocratic stance.