jpk update

. . . NEWS The Sarkozy administration has moved to further shut down active investigations in France. A draft law covering the 2009 – 2014 programme of military spending requires judges to request permission for searches that involve defence secrets, reports Le Monde newspaper. The bill provides for restricting access to locations “likely to harbour elements covered by the national defence" and "local private companies involved in research or defence". Currently, judges can go where they want and ask the Advisory Committee on National Defence Secrets (CCSDN) for declassification of documents, decided on a case-by-case basis. Under the new bill, the Ministry of Defence would issue search warrants. If the ministry gives the green light, the magistrate must make an appointment with the president of the CCSDN to accompany searches in these places. The magistrate is obliged under the bill to give written reasons for the search, and the documents sought. If adopted, this proce...

. . . NEWS Thirteen of 26 new national security documents involving former French president Jacques Chirac are likely to stay top secret, despite links to an inquiry involving alleged assassination. Just 11 of the documents were recommended for full release on 4 December 2008, according to last Friday’s Official Journal, a state gazette. “Partial declassification” for two further documents were made by members of the CCSDN, la Commission consultative du secret de la défense nationale. A powerful advisory commission overseeing judicial inquiries and other requests for release of national defense secrets, CCSDN members recommended against the declassification of 13 documents. This compares with earlier recommendations releasing 16 of 17 documents from another dossier considered by CCSDN . All 132 recommendations from the national security commission have so far been accepted by ministers of the day. First story on the new documents appeared at a quarter to six last Friday evening, accord...

earlier coverage: exposing bank accounts in japan, belonging to former french president, jacques chirac, and former french polynesian president, gaston flosse. . . . NEWS RELEASE A national security commission in Paris approved declassification of 11 documents last Friday, opening new links between an alleged assassination of a former Pape’ete editor with ex-president Jacques Chirac. It is the second dossier of top secret papers to emerge from two judicial inquiries exploring growing links. Of 26, two further papers were recommended for partially declassification by La Commission consultative du secret de la défense nationale (CCSDN), a powerful advisory commission overseeing judicial inquiries and other requests for release of national defense secrets. Commission members recommended 13 documents not be approved for declassification. All 132 recommendations from the national security commission have so far been accepted by ministers of the day. First story on the new do...