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BiggerThe US begins the “fight” against excessive use of pretrial detention in the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo.- The “Dominican Justice Initiative” (IDJ), a project of the Hispanic Leadership Fund, has been established with the purpose of raising awareness about the prevalent and excessive use of pretrial detention in the Dominican Republic. This initiative aims to advocate for a just and transparent judicial system that adheres to international standards and respects the presumption of innocence, fair trials, and human rights.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the IDJ asserts that the high number of individuals held in pretrial detention violates fundamental principles and contributes to prison overcrowding. In 2022, a troubling 64% of the 25,711 inmates had not yet been convicted. The IDJ’s website emphasizes that the organization’s launch is an effort to generate critical awareness about the pressing situation in the Dominican Republic.
The establishment of the IDJ coincides with former US Congressman Connie Mack IV being hired by Donald Guerrero, a defendant in Operation Squid. Mack sent a letter criticizing the Attorney General’s Office and accusing the government of using preventive detention as a political tool.
Notably, the Hispanic Leadership Fund also wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing concern over the humanitarian crisis in the Dominican Republic. The letter stated that seven out of ten incarcerated individuals are held in pretrial detention, which could include US citizens or permanent residents. The organization urges the US government to take action and address the situation.
The IDJ’s primary objective is to bring an end to the excessive use of pretrial detention in the Dominican Republic and to seek support from the US government for this cause.
So a currupt Dominican official (Donald Guerrero) hires a US Congressman (Connie Mack IV) and he inmediatelly start using its influence to critisize and put preassure on dominican authorities to get his client free under the excuse of a uneven application of pre-trial detention.
The level of corruption in both goverments is incredible.
Unfortunately, this lobbyist is using his Republican connections.to apply pressure to the Dominican Government. The Hispanic Leadership Fund is a non-partisan advocacy organization founded in 2008, the Hispanic Leadership Fund is the first center-right non-partisan national Latino advocacy organization governed exclusively by Latino political and public policy professionals.
This IS NOT an initiative of the US government it’s a private political think tank.
The US has not begun a fight about pretrlal detention in the RD. A former US congressman acting as a consultant does not represent the US. A communication from the Hispanic Leadership Fund… to… the US Secretary of State does not represent US involvement. When US officials send an official notice or official envoy with the specific task of addressing pretrial detention, then the US is engaged. However, the US is not going to get connected with a sovereign nation’s domestic issue about pretrial detention.
The headline to this article is deceiving, inflammatory towards the US.
I agree with you. Most people over-read or misinterpret simple sentences. As you say, just because I send a letter to the us president doesn’t mean he’s my friend….it just means I sent a letter to him….nothing more. Your post is corrent.
These articles posted by DT are literally translations of Dominican media publications. There are nuances of context in publications from Spanish to English that when translated do not correctly characterize the original message. The above article is an example of the poor characterization.
The US are the world leaders in unlawful detention guantanamo without trial since 9/11
They should speak about RD governmental stragety for dealing with massive offensives against the state