This further reduced the role of the country s 60 opposition parties in shaping national policy. The Independent National Electoral Commission established in May 1998 did not have control over important parts of the electoral process, particularly electoral rolls and voter cards. The polls were marked by heavy use of state patronage, resources, and media. National security laws permit surveillance and arrests without warrants. Police routinely ignore prescribed limits on detention, search, and seizure.
Prison conditions are harsh, with overcrowding, poor diets, and minimal medical attention.
Freedom of assembly is constitutionally protected and generally respected, with required permits usually issued routinely. Many nongovernmental organizations operate openly and freely, including human rights groups which have reported detailed accounts of abuses by security forces. Burkina Faso is a secular state, and religious freedom is respected. At least a dozen private radio stations, a private television station, and numerous independent newspapers and magazines function with little governmental interference. The media, which are often highly critical of the government, play an important role in public debate.