2020News

The Santo Domingo Metro and the demonstrations at the Plaza de las Banderas

The authorities at the Santo Domingo Metro have refuted the claim that access to the Metro was denied to any person dressed in black or carrying signage. The snapshot of a Metro agent talking to a young woman carry a cardboard sign and wearing black has circulated throughout social media in the Dominican Republic and, really, the world.

As a result, the Specialized Security Corps of the Metro and Tramline of Santo Domingo (Cesmet), has been forced to explain just what was going on in that now-famous photograph. According to the authorities, the agent was merely explaining the norms contained in Article 15, section D of the User Manual of the Metro. This explains the maximum dimensions of any object to be carried on the Metro. According to the press communiqué, the Metro says that the young lady was allowed to take the Metro to her preferred destination, and that no person has been denied access because of the clothing they were wearing.

In another note, Cesmet agents prevented an upset person from diving in front of a Metro train, in an apparent suicide attempt. Video has surfaced of the Cesmet agents dragging the individual across the subway platform. He was yelling and screaming that he carried a contagious disease and he was placed in a security room.

Initially, videos had surfaced on social media of the Cesmet personnel literally dragging the young man across the platform. Later on, it was revealed that the person received assistance from doctors and medical persons from the 911 Emergency System. The Metro office issued a note that said that they apologized for the aggressive level of behavior of their agents as seen on the video, and promised to continue working to offer information regarding this case….”

On video from the National Police said that “we stopped an individual who was trying to commit suicide by throwing himself on the train tracks.”

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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre

24 February 2020