What is curfew?
Meaning of Curfew
What is curfew:
The partial restriction of the right to free movement by a government is called a curfew. Its application is usually contemplated in the constitutions or laws of each country. It is a consequence of the declaration of a state of alarm or state of exception.
When a curfew is decreed, a circulation schedule and a guard schedule are established. In some cases it may imply the suspension of certain types of activities.
Anyone who does not comply with the curfew is considered a threat factor that puts the community at risk and, therefore, is subject to arrest or the application of force by the security forces.
Aim
The function of the curfew is to guarantee citizen security in the face of various threats, which is why the measure is considered as a means to protect human rights. The purpose of the curfew is to facilitate the work of the authorities during an emergency and to restore social order.
However, in contexts of dictatorial or totalitarian governments, it may happen that the curfew decree aims to radicalize the political control of a nation. This was the case, for example, of the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile between 1973-1987.
Causes
The curfew responds to emergencies that create chaos and put citizens' safety at risk. Some of the most common causes are:
- popular riots;
- military uprisings;
- war situations;
- natural disasters;
- pandemics.
Examples
Throughout history there have been different cases of curfew. For example, in 2020, different Latin American countries decreed a curfew in the face of the threat of COVID-19 (coronavirus) to contain the spread of the pandemic.
Other examples can be:
- Chile , 2019. The Chilean government declared a state of emergency and ordered a curfew to quell the disturbances that began in Santiago de Chile after the increase in transport, which spread to other cities in the country.
- Chile , 2010. The government decrees a curfew of 12 hours a day after the wave of looting derived from the earthquake.
- Chile , 1973-1987 approx. During the Pinochet dictatorship, the practice of the curfew was frequent (although not permanent) and obedient to the dictator's intentions of political control.
- Colombia , 2019. A curfew was decreed in Cali and Bogotá due to the vandalism and riots that followed the march of the national strike.
- Colombia , 1970. The demonstrations against the theft of the elections in 1970 led to the declaration of the State of Siege and the imposition of the curfew.
- Colombia , 1948. After the assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, the government tried to quell the riots by implementing curfews.
- Honduras , 2017-2018. In the face of post-election protests, the government decreed a 12-hour curfew for ten days.
- Puerto Rico , 2017. A wave of looting after the passage of Hurricane María motivated the governor to declare a curfew between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. indefinitely.
- Venezuela , 1989. After a wave of looting known as “el caracazo”, the Venezuelan government decreed a curfew between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am over several days.
Update date: February 28, 2021.
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