2003 has begun with a series of horrific cases of violence against women. Yesterday, in separate incidents, two women died as a result of injuries suffered at the hands of their estranged husbands or lovers. One woman was beaten and then tied to a cylinder of gas that was ignited, burning 30 percent of her body. She died yesterday. Another woman, in Sosua on the North Coast, was stabbed five times as she left a bar. This brings the number of victims of such violence to five in the first seven days of 2003, according to Diario Libre. In 2002, 107 women were killed in cases of domestic or conjugal violence.
In another story, a beaten woman told reporters that she had placed 10 complaints against her ex-husband, but has not received justice, as he apparently ignores the judicial summonses.
Furthermore, in the case involving the death of Paulina Severino in Los Alcarrizos, the local District Attorney seemed to dismiss the violence that resulted in her death, referring to the slain woman?s ex-husband as her ?chulo?. In using this word, the subtle implication is that the violence committed was within the standard societal norms. The following short editorial from Diario Libre explains:
?In Dominican speech, a ?chulo? is the owner of a woman with a license to do with her whatever he feels like doing, from managing her sexually to beating her at will. Of course, acts of violence committed against a married woman by a ?chulo? is justified beforehand. That Assistant District Attorney of Los Alcarrizos, Francisco Cordero, should speak as he did in the case of Paulina Severino is to set a dangerous example.
Whether he ignored the abuse complaints made by Severino or not, the unfortunate and inconsiderate reference is sufficient reason for his dismissal, ipso facto. This is a chuleria (?to do as a chulo does?) the government owes Dominican society, sick and tired of so much violence against women and the aged impunity.?
