Dominican Republic

According to local media, Manuel Guillermo Mejía, the director of broadcaster Peravia Noticias, reported that businesses belonging to Ramón de los Santos were blocking sidewalks in the southern city of Baní, apparently provoking an assault on the journalist.

Violent incidents in the north of the Dominican Republic in which some 30 people were injured, among them two reporters covering a protest march, should be investigated promptly, the Inter American Press Association told the Caribbean country’s authorities.

Melton Pineda is the second Dominican journalist to face prison for defamation in 2012, following the January conviction of Johnny Alberto Salazar, whose case was later overturned on appeal.

The ruling by the Inter-American Human Rights Court requires the government of the Dominican Republic to “establish the truth of the events in question” and “punish those responsible” for the forced disappearance 18 years ago of journalist Narciso González Medina.

“We are unpleasantly surprised by this decision as Jaime Flete García’s motive for murdering Normando García seemed to have been established,” RSF said.

Margarita Cedeño de Fernández’s attorney officially accused journalist Marco Martínez of falsifying documents in order to attack the honour and reputation of the first lady, who is currently running for vice president.

The case came as a result of Johnny Alberto Salazar’s recent criticisms of a human rights committee, accusing it of protecting criminals and people linked to organized crime.

According to investigators, José Agustín Silvestre de los Santos was murdered in revenge for an article linking businessman Matías Avelino Castro to criminal activities.

José Agustín Silvestre was known for his ongoing and controversial claims about drug trafficking in the province of La Romana.

TV presenter José Agustín Silvestre de los Santos, also known as “Gajo,” was arrested on a judge’s order when he appeared in court at the start of his trial on a criminal defamation charge.

Francisco Frías Morel said he believes police targeted him for his reporting on the case of a youth killed in a police shooting in the northeastern city of Nagua.

José Yordi Veras Rodríguez was rushed to hospital, where doctors said his injuries were not life-threatening.

Canal 53, a privately-owned television station, was accused of “illegal broadcasting” by the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel).

Investigation into death of Normando García makes progress in a country where impunity is often the norm.

(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 30 March 2009 IAPA press release: IAPA protests intimidation of journalists in Dominican Republic Miami (March 30, 2009) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today expressed repudiation of attempts in the Dominican Republic to intimidate journalists and urged the Congress there to investigate the matter. The journalists said […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters sans frontières calls on the authorities to take death threats made against journalist and television producer Manuel Antonio Vega seriously. Vega has regularly denounced drug trafficking in the Dominican Republic and should be afforded the protection necessary to carry out his work safely. Vega, who regularly reports on drug issues, was allegedly […]