Video and Foreign Policy
Political Prisoners
Video has been used in the communications between nations when political prisoners are involved. The question of the treatment of the prisoner arises and video is seen as a trustworthy answer.
In 1994, Chinese leaders showed a videotape in Beijing of 4 political prisoners in good health in order to answer criticism about how they treat such prisoners (New York Times).
In November, 1998, a TV station in Peru broadcast videotape footage of Lori Berenson, a U.S. citizen imprisoned for terrorism. The video showed the prisoner looking healthy while her parents were visiting her at the prison. "The minute-long video showed a smiling Berenson, walking unaided and wearing a white blouse and black trousers, meeting her parents Mark and Rhoda Berenson in an open air courtyard at Socabaya prison. They were shown exchanging kisses." (cnn.com) The U.S. wants Peru to allow her case in an open civilian court. Without the proof that Berenson is healthy and well-treated, provided by the video, the U.S. might approach the situation differently.
