Attacks on Justice 2002: Jamaica
The judiciary has been hampered by inefficient practices, a severe backlog of cases due to limited resources and a lack of political resolve to institute reform.
The judiciary has been hampered by inefficient practices, a severe backlog of cases due to limited resources and a lack of political resolve to institute reform.
The former military ruler, General Pinochet, returned to Chile and faced proceedings before the judiciary, which took significant steps to advance his trial. However, in July 2001, the Santiago Appeals Court suspended proceedings against the former dictator on health grounds.
Although the military’s position has become less tolerant, some judges took steps to bring to justice persons responsible for human rights violations that occurred during the rule of the military juntas.
At least 64 judges, lawyers and prosecutors were victims of attacks between February 2000 and November 2001. Intimidation against other judicial officers and witnesses contributed to the widespread impunity enjoyed by a wide variety of criminal offenders.
The Guatemalan Government must take effective action to stop the violence and acts of intimidation against members of the country’s human rights community, the ICJ and other rights groups said today.