Physical abuse of prisoners, particularly by the Carabinero uniformed police, remains a problem. Most laws limiting political expression and civil liberties were eliminated by constitutional reforms in 1989. However, a 1958 State Security Law punishes those who defame, libel, or calumniate the president, government ministers, parliamentarians, senior judges, and the commanders in chief of the armed forces. In January 1998 two journalists were jailed overnight for saying that a former supreme court justice, facing allegations of narcotics-related corruption and two impeachment motions, was old, ugly, and had a murky past. Scores of publications present all points of view, although self-censorship regarding Chile s recent political history is widespread.
Radio is both pubic and private.
The national television network is state-run, but open to all political voices. However, certain movies have been banned. Its author, journalist Alejandra Matus, was forced to flee to the United States. Chile has a strong trade union movement. Government corruption is comparatively minor, when compared to other governments in the region, although military graft has been allowed to remain uninvestigated.