2005News

Crime concerns

The National Police reported that during the first five months of the year there were 1,259 homicides, of a population of approximately nine million people. This is an average of 252 murders per month, or nine per day, as Hoy newspaper highlights in its editorial today. The newspaper considers that the statistics are alarming, especially in a country that prided itself on its peacefulness. The editorial writer comments that the motives of the assassinations are another matter of concern, especially the increase in murders to rob people. Of the homicides, 288 (22.9%) were due to quarrels,245 (19.46%) were consequence of theft or assault, 35 (2.8%) occurred amongst people in entertainment centers (alcoholic beverages involved), and 48 (3.8%) were murders of women while 19 (1.5%) were related to narcotic drugs.