March, 9 - 7:37 AM
DR’s security forces murdered up to 440, tortured, U.S. report says
Report says self-censoring increasing in the country’s journalists and publishers
SANTO DOMINGO.- In 2005 Dominican security forces killed between 400 and 440 people, tortured and committed other abuses with presumed criminals, detainees and prisoners, denounced yesterday the U.S. Department of State’s most recent report on human rights in the world.
It criticized the trafficking of people in Dominican territory and the existence of forced child prostitution and labor.
According to the report, in the country there is an increasing self-censorship among the Dominican journalists and publishers.
Between the irregular situations cited figure "the arbitrary expulsion of Haitian immigrants."
The report indicates that the conditions of the prisons are generally bad, "to which is added several cases of arbitrary arrests.”
"The detainees remain under custory during long periods before they are tried and the processes are equally long," states the publication. However, Washington observed as positive within the field of human rights in the country, the new criminal procedures code and a new code for minors.
In that legislation, it adds, there is greater protection for minors and greater punishment in the cases of sexual and commercial exploitation.
He indicates that the Dominican government also improved its capacity to fight against people trafficking, provide assistance to the victims and improve the investigations on traffickers.
The State Department summarizes that in the Caribbean a "poor" situation is posted on human rights, citing the cases of Cuba and Haiti.
Dominican Today - Portal Alta Tecnologia
