the political spectrum expressing shock at the minister’s revelation. The ruling party Member of Parliament, Botsalo Ntuane is cited as saying none of the reasons stated by Venson-Moitoi for not coming up with the Act have anything to do with the objectives of the Freedom of Information Act. He is further quoted as saying failing to establish such a law will mean Botswana’s democracy is no longer progressive. • ALERT Date: August 10, 2007 Persons/Institutions: Gavin Emmanuel Violation: Detained On August 10 2007, Botswana-based freelance journalist, Gavin Emmanuel, spent the night in police custody, following allegations of espionage. Police, however, claim the motive of arrest related to a ‘threat to kill accusation’ made against the journalist by a colleague at the Echo newspaper. Emmanuel told MISA Botswana that his home and that of his girlfriend were searched by a contingent of armed police on that morning. “Apparently a note was found at the office purporting to be written by me to the South African intelligence services. The police searched for pictures and other documents that could lead them to making some charges. After failing to get anything they took me to the police station where I was detained and released the following day around midday”, Emmanuel explained and added that the police took with them his passport, resident permit and a computer memory stick. However, the police Public Relations chief, Christopher Mbulawa refute the espionage motives and say they only searched the journalist’s place because of the ‘threat to kill’ allegations. MISA Botswana interviewed the journalist’s editor, Joel Konopo, who confirmed that the journalist was arrested over allegations made by a colleague. Konopo confirmed that there was a note found in their offices purporting some correspondence between the accused and the South African intelligence. He said the note indicated that the writer would send pictures of the military of Botswana to the South African intelligence. Benedict Sibanda, the colleague alleged to be the initiator of the allegations, denied any knowledge of the matter • ALERT Date: August 6, 2007 Persons/Institutions: Media, citizens of Botswana Violation: Legislation On August 6 2007, the Botswana Parliament passed an Intelligence and Security Services Bill despite the boycott by all members of the opposition, who had protested the proceedings leading to its adoption. The Bill however has been adopted with some substantive amendments such as the inclusion of the oversight provision in the form of a parliamentary committee and an Appeals Tribunal. In one of its provisions it insists that the a warrant of arrest must be sought through the courts, prior to carrying out intrusive activities of a personal nature. The legitimacy of the bill has however been compromised by the absence of the opposition who had initially put in a series of amendments but which subsequently fell off due to their absence. The final stage of the Bill remains with the President who has to sign it before it is and declared a law. Earlier in the month a coalition of Botswana Civil society organisations that include the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana, the Ditshwanelo-Centre for Human Rights and the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) expressed disappointment following the refusal of the ruling party members of parliament to grant the opposition members a postponement of the discussion and voting on amendments to the Intelligence and Security Services Bill. So This Is Democracy? 2007 -29- Media Institute of Southern Africa