CONFIDENTIAL
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Report by Eastern European and Soviet Department
Right No.
(i)
The provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) are in the main formally observed. There is no evidence of imprisonment without trial but there have been occasional allegations in political cases of exceeding the legal limits imposed on pre-trial detention. Breaches of prison regulations and ill- treatment of political prisoners have been alleged. The evidence in practice of an enforceable right to compensation for unlawful arrest is highly doubtful.
(ii) There is no evidence of the use of
torture, but there are allegations of police brutality.
(iii) Slavery does not exist.
Rating suggested by Department
(iv) Public discussion or expression of opinion
different from official views is not possible through the mass media. Dissidents who have succeeded in expressing their views abroad have in the recent past been prosecuted on a charge of subversion, but there have been no cases of prosecution on this account in the last two years. Restrictions on the receipt of political material from abroad are tight.
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2
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(v)
The Judiciary is formally independent. Judges are elected by the Federal and Republic legislatures as appropriate. the system of selecting candidates ensures that only those loyal to the Communist Party are chosen.
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However,
CONFIDENTIAL
/(vi)
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