Francisco (Franklyn) Franco, who has been detained since February without any formal charge, has begun on a hunger strike, according to his lawyer Domingo Porfirio Rojas Nina. Mr. Franco’s case has been well publicized in the news media, as the United States has requested his extradition. Mr. Franco is facing several charges in the U.S., including escaping from a prison in Minnesota after being convicted of forgery charges. His status was also given attention because of the legal ramifications of the U.S. request for extradition, which set off a debate on what the Dominican Constitution stipulates in such matters.
Most legal experts, in and outside the government, agreed that the Constitution does not provide for a Dominican to be extradited while facing charges in this country. He does not, however, according to his lawyer, have any charges in the D.R. pending, and Domingo Porfirio Rojas Nin reminded the news media that four release orders that have been issued by the National Attorney General’s office and the Supreme Court have still not been honored by prison authorities.
On several occasions the U.S. Ambassador to the D.R., Donna Jean Hrinak, has expressed her government’s desire that Mr. Franco should be extradited to face charges there.