Quico says: In
some quarters it's gotten trendy to compare Chávez's new Intelligence Decree-Law to
the Patriot Act. But as
this Economist piece rightly notes, the Chávez decree goes
far, far, far beyond what the Patriot Act would allow:
The decree authorises police raids without warrant, the use of anonymous witnesses and secret evidence. Judges are obliged to collaborate with the intelligence services. Anyone caught investigating sensitive matters faces jail. The law contains no provision for any kind of oversight. It blurs the distinction between external threats and internal political dissent. It requires all citizens, foreigners and organisations to act in support of the intelligence system whenever required—or face jail terms of up to six years.
Quico says: In some quarters it's gotten trendy to compare Chávez's new Intelligence Decree-Law to the Patriot Act. But as this Economist piece rightly notes, the Chávez decree goes far, far, far beyond what the Patriot Act would allow:
