This is generally honored in practice, although often those arrested on Fridays remain the weekend in jail and are not charged until the following Monday. The other exception to usual practice is if the detainee cannot afford legal counsel. The Government does not use forced exile. The law provides for public trial before an independent, impartial court. Criminal defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, are allowed legal counsel, and have the right to appeal.
Courts provide free legal counsel to the indigent only in capital cases.
There were no reports of political prisoners. The Constitution prohibits such practices. Government authorities generally respect these prohibitions, and violations are subject to effective legal sanction. The Constitution provides for the right of free expression, and the Government respects this in practice. The political opposition openly criticizes the Government.