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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 33 No. 14. 1970

Security of the State

Security of the State

Further, arising out of the Emergency Decrees and the Promulgating Decress granting these legal rights to Hitler and Goering to protect the security of the State,. Hitler and Goering had the right at any time to Stop any Criminal proceedings, particularly criminal proceedings involving party officials and they exercised their right freely and were most efficient in protecting Nazi officers, Gestapo officials and other party members who were prosecuted with any crime causing any embarrassment and the excuse used time again was "that this was in the interest of the security of the State" In South Africa the Boss Bill has already been passed but is the subject of a judicial enquiry. Its all embracing powers could have far-reaching effects on the Courts and it gives the Minister the power to present a certificate and stop certain evidence being led "in the interest of the security of the State".

A further right given to the Nazi law-making gangst was that they had the right to banish or incarcerate in concentration camps, accused person whom they considered to have been too lightly treated by the Courts which they had set up They exercised this right readily. An instance is that of Pastor Niemoeller. As he was leaving the "Special Court" which acquitted him he was picked up by the Security Police, taken into detention and then sent to a concentration camp. In addition, the Nazis readily resorted to banishing and punishing persons who had already served their sentences. In South Africa under the Suppression of Communism Act, the Terrorism Act, etc., accused who have been acquitted at summary trials may be re-arrested immediately, re-charged, detained banned, banished, or placed under house arrest, and even detained in prison (as Sobukwe was) after completing the sentence of the Court.