The number of young people gathered outside the Central Electoral Board (JCE) for evening protests for transparency after the suspension of the municipal election had been growing from dozens at the start to hundreds on Tuesday, 18 February 2020. That evening, though, the peaceful protestors were dispersed by tear gas bombs.
Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Ruben Darío Paulino Sem told the press the military who threw the bombs would be penalized because the action was not authorized. The Police say “unkowns” through the bombs.
The young people have been demanding an independent investigation of the reasons of the electronic glitch in the automated voting system that aborted the municipal election.
Representatives of the civic movement Green March (Marcha Verde) said that without consequences, there would be no guarantees for the election now called for 15 March. The group understands the JCE is not trustworthy. “The country has spent RD$15 billion on these fraudulent elections, paid with our taxes,” said the spokesperson for the group.
The president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), Julio Castaños Guzmán protested the use of tear gas bombs against the demonstrators who were gathered peacefully in front of the JCE. Journalist Altagracia Salazar observes that it is strange that Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta and Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo both said the Presidency did not authorize the tear gas bombs. She said that the left and right hand men of President Danilo Medina had never referred publicly to the Green March protests against impunity in government.
The JCE is located next to the Ministry of Defense.
Protests are called to continue in Santo Domingo, Santiago and Puerto Plata. Filmmaker Jose Maria Cabral is filming the protests.
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Diario Libre
19 February 2020