Police investigate possible rights violations in Edward Ramírez’s arrest

Santo Domingo.- The National Police confirmed Friday that it is probing potential violations of journalist Edward Ramírez’s rights after he was detained early Thursday near the Centro Olímpico and held at the Naco precinct without notification to his family. Colonel Diego Pesqueira, the force’s spokesman, said Ramírez, reporter for El Nuevo Diario, is safe and being interviewed as part of an internal review of the detention and lack of communication with relatives.

Ramírez was last seen leaving his newsroom around 8 p.m. Wednesday, when he hired a motorcycle taxi via a digital platform. His family reported him missing the next morning when they could not reach him by phone. Police located him at the Naco station later Thursday, but only informed his relatives after several hours.

Pesqueira said the Inspectorate General and Internal Affairs units are gathering evidence to clarify why Ramírez was arrested and why the usual procedure of allowing detainees to contact their families may not have been followed. “We need to understand all the circumstances before drawing conclusions,” he said, adding that formal updates will follow once the investigation advances.

The case has drawn concern from press organizations in the Dominican Republic, which have called on authorities to ensure transparency and respect for due process. Ramírez’s situation will be closely watched as a test of the police’s commitment to safeguarding journalists’ rights.