Disappearances are cases in which 1) people have disappeared, 2) agents of the state are likely responsible, and 3) political motivation is likely. In most instances, disappearances occur because of a victim's political involvement or knowledge of information sensitive to authorities. Often, victimsare referred to by governments as “terrorists,” and labeled a threat to national security. Knowledgeof the whereabouts of the disappeared is, by definition, not public knowledge. However, it istypically known by whom they were taken and under what circumstances. Cases where people disappear for a period of time and then later reappear are also to be counted, so long as the initial disappearance occurs in the year you are scoring. In many instances, victims are taken under false pretense, such as having been taken away for questioning due to suspicion of some political action that is in opposition to the government. There are some cases of persons that are held under the circumstance of “clandestine detention.” These are prisoners that are known to be in custody but their whereabouts are not known. Since the whereabouts of clandestine detainees are not known, they should be counted among the disappeared.
Scoring Scheme:
Disappearances:
(0) Have occurred frequently
(1) Have occurred occasionally
(2) Have not occurred / Unreported
Type of variable: Categorical
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