The Citizens Empowerment Movement (Movimiento Poder Ciudadano) has filed a complaint against the Minister of Interior and Police, Jose Ramon Fadul, and the Chief of the Police, Nelson Peguero Paredes, for having violating the right of their members and other citizens to protest in front of the Office of Supervisory Engineers of the State (OISOE). The department is a parallel ministry of public works that operates directly under the Presidency.
Lawyer Bartolome Pujals and spokesman for the MPC Manuel Robles explained that the government is violating Art. 188 of the Penal Code and Art. 71 of the Constitution.
The criminal charges were presented to officials at the Attorney General’s Office following a ruling of the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) that confirmed the right of citizens to organize protests in the vicinity of the OISOE. The TSA presides over the legality of government actions.
Regardless, the National Police has cordoned off the area around OISOE, impeding the protestors to reach the OISOE offices.
The protests to demand the shutdown of the OISOE were fueled by a series of alleged corruption scandals involving OISOE officials. The Citizens Empowerment Movement and its sympathizers point out that the charges of corruption within OISOE have not led to any legal action against OISOE officials.
“From its origin the OISOE has been rife with scandal, corruption and public theft and the demand for the shutdown is a generalized one,” said Robles who ensured that the formation of human chains in demand for the elimination of the institution would continue. The MPC protests take place on Wednesdays.
Robles announced a human chain would be formed in front of the Peralvillo, Monte Plata public school where payment issues lead contractor architect David Rodriguez to commit suicide. Rodriguez’s suicide has served as a rallying point to confront and end corruption in government agencies.
Read more in Spanish: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=451221