COLOMBIA
Report by HM Embassy, Bogota
Right No.
(i)
CONFIDENTIAL
Rating suggested by Post
3
Habeas corpus exists and a person arrested must be told within 72 hours whether the Court determines that there is a basis for detaining him. There are fixed limits within which cases have to be heard within the next "probatory" stage. These, however, are generally not observed because of the pressures on the courts. Prisoners with no one to press their case can remain indefinitely in prison pending expiry of the period of imprisonment provided for by the law in case of conviction. No estimate of numbers of such prisoners is available.
(ii)
Torture is not used.
(iii)
Slavery does not exist.
(iv)
There are no restrictions on freedom of speech, of the press, TV or radio.
(v)
There is widespread suspicion that many members of the judiciary are incompetent or corrupt or both. The Government is seeking to restructure the administration of justice through constitutional reform. Given the suspected corruption and incompetence in the judiciary it is perhaps all too independent.
O
0
О
O
(vi)
Trade union freedom exists in theory but the unions are not very effective in practice largely because of the economic background against which they operate.
1
(vii)
Freedom to emigrate is complete.
O
CONFIDENTIAL