After spending over six hours in police detention, digital journalist Marino Zapete Corniel was freed on the orders of President Hip?lito Mej?a yesterday afternoon. He had been taken into custody around 6 am yesterday by four armed agents of the National Investigations Department (DNI) and an assistant prosecutor from the District Attorney?s office. The detention followed the publication of a report in the Miami-based online publication Los Nuevos Tiempos Digitales (cafebambu.com), in which he alleged that the President is using state funds to build a mansion in Sabaneta, Jarabacoa. He has also been vocal about another presidential vacation home also under construction supposedly with state funds in Canasta, San Crist?bal. Zapete was reportedly also questioned at the DNI about articles criticizing the President?s stance on the Baninter case.
In response to his detention, a group of friends including fellow journalists and members of the Dominican Human Rights Committee (CDDH) mounted a vigil of protest outside the DNI headquarters, where Zapete was being held. The Inter-American Press Society (IPS) released a statement condemning the detention as a “serious attack on freedom of expression”. The newspapers quote a number of legal experts who agree that Zapete?s detention was in breach of Article 114 of the penal code and that Zapete could rightfully launch a suit against the authorities.
DNI Director General Cruz Mendez, however, referred to the detention as a mere “invitation” to answer questions. Zapete himself said that he had not been mistreated but believed his civil rights had been violated.
The journalist?s detention is the latest in a series of similar incidents where critics of the government have been taken into custody or threatened with imprisonment. Most of today?s editorials are quick to point out that Zapete?s detention has not benefited the government in any way. El Caribe warns of the precedent it sets for other journalists, Diario Libre calls it a “double fault” and List?n commentator Ana Mitila Lora, who took part in the vigil, discusses the politicization of the issue. List?n Diario also reports that Attorney General Victor C?spedes Mart?nez is looking into the incident.