Whether the Department of the Attorney General (Fiscalía General de la Nación) advises individuals at risk of abduction or extortion that it can monitor their telephone, but requires payment in order to do so (2001-March 2002) [COL38632.E]

In a 12 March 2002 telephone interview, the Coordinator of the National Abduction and Extortion Unit (Unidad Nacional contra Secuestro y Extorsión) of the Office of the Attorney General (Fiscalía General de la Nación) stated that telephone interception may be ordered during the course of an investigation involving allegations of kidnapping or extortion. However, all costs associated with such an interception would be assumed by the Colombian state and there would be no charge to the individual (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference


Fiscalía General de la Nación, Unidad Nacional contra Secuestro y Extorsión, Bogotá. 12 March 2002. Telephone interview with Coordinator.

Additional Sources Consulted


IRB databases.

Latin American Regional Reports: Andean Group Report [London]. 2000-2002.

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 2001-2002.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact two oral sources.

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International.

El Colombiano [Medellín]. Apr. 2001-2002.

Fiscalía General de la Nación.

Human Rights Watch.

Jane's Online.

Programa Presidencial de los Derechos Humanos.

Revista Cambio [Bogotá]. 2001-2002.

Semana [Bogotá]. 2001-2002.

Transparencia Internacional.

World News Connection (WNC).