morals; on the exceptions to freedom of expression based on constitutional and legal provisions relating to the state of emergency; on the restrictions, if any, currently applicable to associations in the interest of public order; and on current legal provisions governing the right to strike. 247. In addition, it was asked in which legal cases individuals were required, under article 19 {15) of the Constitution, to declare their religion or belief; whether restriction of the right to privacy under the National Security Act applied only in emergency situations or also in other situations; whether the Compulsory Military Service Act permitted conscientious objectors to perform alternative national service and, if so, what the latter's duration was compared with that of compulsory military service; how the freedom to seek, receive and impart information was implemented in practice; and whether government employees had the right to organize and to strike. Clarification was also requested as to the compatibility with article 22 of the Covenant and relevant ILO Conventions of several provisions of Ecuadorian law relating to the membership of the executive committee of a works council; the modalities for dissolution of a works council; the prohibition against trade unions taking part in religious or political activities; the penalty of imprisonment for the instigators of collective work stoppages; and to protection against acts of anti-union discrimination. 248. In his reply, the representative of the State party said that, although there were no political restrictions on the issue of passports, a person's exit from the country had to be restricted in some legal cases. The cost of a passport was equivalent to the average monthly wage and administrative appeal was available in the case of refusal to issue a passport. There was complete freedom of movement within the country. The Intendente General de Policia, who was a magistrate responsible to the Ministry of the Interior, was empowered to deport any alien who was in Ecuador illegally, and no appeal could be made against his decision. Expulsion orders against aliens legally in Ecuador had to be referred to the Minister of the Interior, whose decision was final. Requests for the extradition of aliens had to be decided upon by the President of the Supreme Court. 249. Concerning the exercise of freedom of religion and expression, the representative explained that, according to article 19 (6) of the Constitution all persons could freely practise the faith that they preferred, except for the limitations prescribed by law to protect the security, public morality and fundamental rights of other persons. Among the many sects that had arisen in Latin America in recent years there were some that were not only dangerous to public morals but even to life. The Penal Code provided for the punishment of any illegal acts of that type. The President of the Republic was empowered to impose censorship on the media during a state of emergency; that measure had, however, never been applied under the present Constitution. There was currently no provision for conscientious objection in Ecuador. In actual fact, as Ecuador's armed forces were small, they did not require all the potential conscripts and it was relatively easy to avoid performing military service. However, most of the poorer elements of the population eagerly performed their military service as it provided them with an opportunity to escape poverty and rural isolation. The issue of freedom of access to information was now the subject of considerable attention in Ecuador. Administrative files were public, with the exception of those relating to national security and military matters. However, access to administrative files was hampered by the bureaucratic tendency towards secrecy. -57-