Dominican Republic looks to punish hero’s murderers

Santo Domingo.- The Justice Ministry on Thursday subpoenaed former Armed Forces secretary Ramiro Matos Gonzalez for questioning next Monday 31 on charges that he and other military under his command tortured and murdered freedom fighters, Manuel Aurelio Tavárez Justo (Manolo) among them, at Las Manaclas, Santiago province on December 21, 1963

Deputy prosecutor Bolivar Sanchez will question the retired general in his office at 11am on charges of war crimes filed by several patriotic foundations, that he tortured and murdered Tavárez Justo, José Antonio Barreiro Rijo (Tony), Rubén Alfonso Marte Aguayo, Federico José Cabrera González, Jaime Ricardo Socías, Fernando Arturo Ramírez, Rubén Díaz Moreno, Juan Caonabo Abel, Alfredo Peralta Michel, Antonio Filión, Manuel de los Santos Reyes Díaz, José Daniel Fernández and Manuel de Jesús Fondeur.

The attorneys for the foundation said they’ll also request RD$3.0 million bail, travel ban and house arrest for the retired general and codefendants.

Among the plaintiffs figure the Federation of Patriotic Foundations, Minerva Josefina Tavárez Mirabal, Manuel Enrique Tavárez Mirabal, the Heroes of May 30 foundations, Hermanas Mirabal, Manolo Tavárez, Heroes of Constance, Maimon and Estero Hondo, as well as Testimony and Amaury Germán and freedom fighter during the Trujillo dictatorship, Mayobanex Vargas.