The interior minister has ordered an investigation to determine possible disciplinary action against security officials for involvement in extremist organizations such as the 1143 group, an official source told Lusa.
According to a source in the minister’s office, Margarida Blasco ordered on Tuesday that the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) carry out “an investigation in all its scope and depth to determine possible disciplinary responsibility” related to “the participation of elements of the security forces in groups/or movements that, if confirmed, would be extremely serious in a democratic state governed by the rule of law.”
The order followed news of security forces’ involvement in extremist groups such as Group 1143.
“At the same time, first of all, it is recognized that the security forces are responsible for ensuring fundamental rights in strict accordance with the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic,” the official source emphasized.
Margarida Blasco’s office further specified that “it has been established that all the processes that had already been initiated on the date of the opening of the latter, of an identical nature to these military and police officers, in the corresponding security forces, will be transferred to the current investigation process within the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration, for processing there.”
The same source added that the Judicial Police, through the Central Directorate for Combating Banditry, is responsible for “preventing criminal investigations and assisting the judiciary in relation to various crimes, namely, crimes against peace and humanity, terrorist organizations and terrorism, against the security of the state, except those related to the electoral process, as well as participation in armed unrest.”
A source in the Ministry of Internal Affairs also reported that the minister “will no longer make any further comments or statements on this matter.”
MAI’s position comes after the Left Bloc (BE) said on Wednesday that extremist organisations such as the 1143 group or the Habeas Corpus Association should be disbanded and questioned the government on what it was doing about it.
“Formal organizations like Habeas Corpus or informal organizations like the 1143 group must be disbanded, that is, they must be used within the law to ensure surveillance of groups, identification of their members and dismantling of their organizations,” the BE parliament leader said.
Speaking to Lusa news agency, Fabião Figueiredo said that in a democracy “there can be no place for hatred or violence in any form, and this must be established.”
BE asked the Minister of the Interior about “what measures the government will take to liquidate the 1143 group” and how she assesses the “continued activities” of this “organization that is contrary to constitutional principles and is engaged in committing crimes.”
In a question addressed to the executive power through parliament, the bloc also wants to know whether elements of the security forces and services belonging to this group are known, what measures it will take to identify possible members or collaborators and whether Margarida Blasco believes that these elements should “be subject to disciplinary proceedings with a view to their exclusion from the security forces.”
In another question addressed to the Minister of National Defence, BE asks the same thing regarding the Armed Forces.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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