Revolving door effect explained

Revolving door effect should not be confused with Revolving door (politics).

The revolving door effect is a term to describe the situation in which, while political prisoners are released, new imprisonments take place at the same time or within a few days, so that the number of political prisoners remains constant. The term was coined by Venezuelan activist Alfredo Romero, director of the NGO Foro Penal.[1] [2]

Terminology

The term was coined by Venezuelan activist Alfredo Romero, director of the NGO Foro Penal, in his research as a guest of the Carr Center at Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University.[3]

Application

Venezuela

The revolving door effect has been denounced on several occasions in Venezuela. Alfredo Romero stated that in the course of 2016 the number of people imprisoned exceeded the number of those released.[4] In 2017, political prisoners who had been imprisoned for one, two or even three years were released and new people were arrested afterwards. For instance, audiovisual producer Héctor Pedroza Carrizo was detained without a warrant by agents of the National Guard's Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Command (CONAS) at his home.[5]

In 2018, the National Constituent Assembly announced the release of 79 people, but only 40 of the cases consisted in political prisoners from a list made up of 237 civilians and 79 military personnel by then. Those released from prison were required to present themselves periodically before the Constituent Assembly and not before the courts, something irregular.[6]

Romero elaborated on the phenomenon again in a July 2020 Wilson Center publication, "The Clock of Repression," noting the correlation between the releases and new arrests shortly thereafter.[7]

Cuba

The mechanism was implemented in Cuba since 2003. That year saw Cuba's Black Spring, which consisted of the kidnapping, beatings and imprisonment of 75 dissidents. After long years of international negotiations and campaigning on their behalf, they were all released. They were offered to leave the island, which was accepted by some of them and others opted to stay; they suffered express kidnappings and forced disappearances for a few days and hours, being accused of minor common crimes and constantly besieged by security agents first and then by supporters of the communist party.[8]

Myanmar

In 2016, the term was used by Burma Campaign UK to refer to the situation of political prisoners in Myanmar.[9]

Nicaragua

NGOs in Nicaragua have denounced that Daniel Ortega's regime implements the "revolving door" mechanism with his government's political prisoners.[10]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: 13 January 2017 . Alfredo Romero denuncia "efecto puerta giratoria" para presos políticos . 11 August 2019 . Venezuela al Día.
  2. News: Himiob Santomé . Gonzalo . 9 October 2016 . 101 y contando, por Gonzalo Himiob Santomé . 11 August 2019 . Runrun.es.
  3. 2017 . REPORT ON STATE REPRESSION IN VENEZUELA . Foro Penal . 11 August 2019.
  4. News: Granados . Lewin . 2 January 2017 . Foro Penal: 2016, año del "efecto puerta giratoria" para los presos políticos . 11 August 2019 . Analítica.
  5. News: Rojas . Vanesa . 28 December 2017 . "Efecto puerta giratoria" califican liberaciones de presos políticos . 11 August 2019 . Agencia Carabobeña de Noticias.
  6. News: Singer . Florantonia . 6 June 2018 . La puerta giratoria de los presos políticos en Venezuela . 11 August 2019 . El País.
  7. Web site: July 2020 . The Repression Clock: A Strategy Behind Autocratic Regimes (No. 40) . 2024-01-10 . Wilson Center.
  8. News: La Puerta Giratoria: el perverso método de asedio cubano que Ortega aplica a los reos políticos en Nicaragua .
  9. Web site: 2016-01-23 . Revolving door of political prisoners keeps spinning . 2021-05-08 . Burma Campaign UK . en-GB.
  10. News: Alejandro G. Motta . 14 February 2023 . Puerta giratoria en Nicaragua . España . La Razón.