South Korea’s Parliament has passed the country’s first anti-terror bill that was first proposed 15 years ago in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in US.
Among total 300 parliamentary seats of the National Assembly, only 156 lawmakers voted in favour of country’s first anti-terrorism legislation.
Key provisions
Defines terror as an act that can put national security and citizens’ safety at risk including disturbance of national, regional and foreign government exercising its authority.
Allow National Intelligence Service (NIS) to collect personal information, conversation and location in mobile phones from suspected terrorists.
It also enables NIS to track bank accounts and immigration records of the suspects.
Intelligence agencies including NIS will report to the Prime Minister before they exercise their new power.
Prime minister headed committee will decide anti-terror policies to be formed, as well as an anti-terror centre under the committee to manage related policing authorities.
Those found guilty under this law can face capital punishment of life imprisonment or over 10 years’ incarceration and those who join a foreign terrorist group can face over 5 years imprisonment.
Current Affairs 3rd March, 2016 Highlights of Union Budget 2016-17 Highlights of Railway Budget 2016
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