NewsWhore
01-08-2009, 02:40 PM
Three more men have been reported dead after "shootouts" with members of the National Police in La Altagracia province. The latest incident occurred at the Coco Loco-Friusa crossing in the Bavaro area. This comes on the heels of another incident where two other alleged criminals who were shot in the Veron-Bavaro-Punta Cana tourist area. The Police reported that the shooting occurred at 11:30pm on Tuesday. This brings to 23 the total number of people killed at the hands of police in the first weeks of 2009. Little has been released about the three dead men, other than they were alleged thieves. But the outcry at the police's "shoot first ask questions later" policy has gained strength in recent weeks.
Police Chief Rafael Guillermo Guzman Fermin denies that police are targeting criminals and has defended the actions of his officers. In recent days he has said that criminals don't discriminate when it comes to their victims. Quoted in Hoy, Guzman said that criminals "nowadays are tougher." He added that "the police's job is to protect society. We won't permit excesses by the police, but we won't stop trying to do our jobs."
The DR's General Prosecutor Radhames Jimenez says he supports the Police Chief, but added that he would investigate any misuse of force. Jimenez Pena is defending recent Police performance and the escalation in the number of deaths occurred in exchanges of fire with the Police. Jimenez pointed out that dozens of police officers have been shot by armed criminals.
President of the National Human Rights Commission, Manuel Maria Mercedes, is asking President Leonel Fernandez to remove Guzman from his post for being responsible for the deaths of 500 people. He added that the CHDH plans to submit a report on the police "shootouts" to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights this month.
In a related commentary in Diario Libre on 7 January, former prosecutor Guillermo Moreno said that the fact that the Police heads commissions that are investigating killings by police officers is evidence of the weakening of the role of the General Prosecutor's Office.
Moreno says that while the Penal Code establishes the contrary, the reality is that the Police have greater preponderance than the state prosecutors in the criminal policies of the state and the investigation of infractions. "This situation leads to a great distortion in our institutions and legality in the country and is the cause of the weakening of the state prosecution and precarious state of rights and liberties we are living despite these being established in our Constitution."
Moreno stated that what is most serious is what is happening with the state prosecutors office. "If it would make its legal competencies prevail, it would not only be strengthened as an institution, but it would submit the members of the police to judicial control and make an immeasurable contribution to the implementation of the rule of law and liberties in the country," he writes. He concludes by defining the root of the problem as the prosecutors' office and its lack of independence.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#14)
Police Chief Rafael Guillermo Guzman Fermin denies that police are targeting criminals and has defended the actions of his officers. In recent days he has said that criminals don't discriminate when it comes to their victims. Quoted in Hoy, Guzman said that criminals "nowadays are tougher." He added that "the police's job is to protect society. We won't permit excesses by the police, but we won't stop trying to do our jobs."
The DR's General Prosecutor Radhames Jimenez says he supports the Police Chief, but added that he would investigate any misuse of force. Jimenez Pena is defending recent Police performance and the escalation in the number of deaths occurred in exchanges of fire with the Police. Jimenez pointed out that dozens of police officers have been shot by armed criminals.
President of the National Human Rights Commission, Manuel Maria Mercedes, is asking President Leonel Fernandez to remove Guzman from his post for being responsible for the deaths of 500 people. He added that the CHDH plans to submit a report on the police "shootouts" to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights this month.
In a related commentary in Diario Libre on 7 January, former prosecutor Guillermo Moreno said that the fact that the Police heads commissions that are investigating killings by police officers is evidence of the weakening of the role of the General Prosecutor's Office.
Moreno says that while the Penal Code establishes the contrary, the reality is that the Police have greater preponderance than the state prosecutors in the criminal policies of the state and the investigation of infractions. "This situation leads to a great distortion in our institutions and legality in the country and is the cause of the weakening of the state prosecution and precarious state of rights and liberties we are living despite these being established in our Constitution."
Moreno stated that what is most serious is what is happening with the state prosecutors office. "If it would make its legal competencies prevail, it would not only be strengthened as an institution, but it would submit the members of the police to judicial control and make an immeasurable contribution to the implementation of the rule of law and liberties in the country," he writes. He concludes by defining the root of the problem as the prosecutors' office and its lack of independence.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#14)