Document - Dominican Republic: Family threatened by police officer

URGENT ACTION

family threatened by POLICE OFFICER

Richard Kendal García has received death threats from a officer of the Dominican National Police. He and his family were arbitrarily detained in a police station in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The authorities have not offered them any protection.

The police officer's brother was killed in March 2008, and the officer and his family believe that the murderer was a friend of Richard Kendal García. The man suspected by the officer's family of committing the murder is missing, and the officer has been pressurizing Richard Kendal García to reveal his whereabouts.

At 5am on 24 June, the police officer and eight other armed officers forced their way into Richard Kendal García's family home, without an arrest warrant. They took him, his father, his 17-year-old brother and 16-year-old sister to a police station, apparently to force Richard Kendal García to reveal the whereabouts of his friend. His father, brother and sister were released after two hours. Police officers beat Richard Kendal García. The following day he appeared before the local Public Prosecutor, who found no proof to link him to the murder and ordered his release. The police officer had accompanied Richard Kendal García and told the Public Prosecutor “it doesn’t matter, I’m going to kill him”(“como quiera, le voy a matar”). Following the threat, Richard Kendal García was kept for two days in the Public Prosecutor’s office for his protection. On 25 June, his father reported the case to the NGO, the National Human Rights Commission (Comision Nacional de Derechos Humanos). The police officer was waiting outside the Commission, and told him, "it doesn't matter what you do, I'm going to do it" ("siga moviéndose pero lo voy a hacer").. The officer remains on active duty. The authorities have failed to provide protection for Richard Kendal García and his family, or to open an investigation into the threats, ill-treatment and arbitrary arrest they have been subject to.

In 2008, shortly after the police officer’s brother was murdered, several of the dead man’s relatives forced their way into Richard Kendal García’s family home. Richard Kendal García’s family fled and had to move to another house.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:

• urging the authorities to act immediately to ensure the safety of Richard Kendal García and his family, in accordance with their wishes;

• calling on the authorities to order an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into the ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest, threats and harassment suffered by Richard Kendal García and his family, publish the results and bring those responsible to justice.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFOre 14 AUGUST 2009 TO:

Attorney General

Sr. Radhamés Jiménez Peña

Procurador General de la República

Palacio de Justicia, Ave. Jiménez Moya esq. Juan Ventura Simón,

Centro de los Heroes, Constanza, Maimón y Estero Hondo.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Fax: +1 809 533 4098

Salutation: Estimado Señor Jiménez/

Dear Sir

Minister of Interior

Sr. Franklin Almeyda Rancier

Secretario de Estado del Interior y la Policía

Ave. México, Esq.

Leopoldo Navarro, Edif. Oficinas Gubernamentales,

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Fax: +1 809 685 1194

Salutation: Señor Secretario/Dear Sir

And copies to:

Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos

Av. Ortega y Gasset 200

Cristo Rey

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Email: cndhrd@hotmail.com

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION

FAMILY THREATENED BY POLICE OFFICER

ADditional Information

Human rights abuses carried out by the Dominican National Police, including unlawful killings, have long been a concern of Amnesty International. According to the Dominican National Human Rights Commission 500 people in the Dominican Republic were killed by police in 2008, and more than 3,000 have been killed in the last 10 years. Amnesty International believes a large proportion of these fatal shootings may be unlawful. These alleged unlawful killings and other serious police abuses are rarely investigated. Without an independent body to investigate allegations of abuse by members of the security forces, those responsible are rarely brought to justice.

UA: 179/09, Index: AMR 27/004/2009, Issue Date: 02 July 2009