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Belgium: spy network disclosure

01 May 1996

A Belgian Minister faced fierce criticism in the Belgian senate following the disclosure of the existence of a regional spy network. The existence of the network was first revealed by the "De Morgen" newspaper on 24 April. It alleged that the Belgian intelligence service, the "Algemene Dienst Inlichtingen en Veiligheid" (ADIV) had decided to create regional networks based in the various army barracks around the country in order to spy on the activities of Belgian citizens. In the debate which followed these revelations both the activities of the ADIV and the apparent powerlessness of the Belgian government to do anything to control them was severely criticised by MPs. Mr Deleuze of the Agalev-Ecolo party pointed out that this was not the first time that Belgian intelligence had attracted unfavourable publicity: "In 1987 they spied on a meeting of Green MEPs. At the end of 1995 General Georis admitted that the service had tapped telephones, in flagrant violation of the law. Then there was the confiscation of the "Nijvel gang" dossiers by military intelligence. On top of all of this came the revelations surrounding the Gladio network that was created without any involvement from ministers and that was eventually exposed in Italy." Other MPs were equally critical. One MP from the governing coalition stated: "I understand that not all military operations can be revealed but we should know what the various services are doing". In response Minister Poncelet, the Defence Minister, claimed that the relocation was nothing more than a rationalisation of resources. He also spoke of his "respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms".