Santo Domingo.- A group of young people held a demonstration yesterday in protest against the recent pardons granted by president Leonel Fernández in favor of Vivian Lubrano de Castillo, Pedro Franco Badía, Antonio Marte, Alfredo Pulinario (Cambita), Milciades Amaro Guzmán and Gervasio de la Rosa.
Lubrano del Castillo had been sentenced to five years in jail for her part in the Baninter banking fraud case, and the rest had been convicted for the Plan Renove public transport fraud case.
The protesters gathered in Santo Domingo’s La Lira park at the intersection between Lope de Vega and Lincoln avenues from 4:00 p.m. holding placards in protest at the presidential decision to release the fraudsters.
Eduardo Gómez, one of the organizers, read out a manifesto stating, “we are the young people who support this initiative “In Back Against Impunity” which was delivered to the media.
“We are not and have not been indifferent when there are reasons to raise our voices”, says the documents. It goes on to say “we were the young people who protested during the banking crisis during former president Hipólito’s ill-fated government”.
They also said they had taken part in La Otra Feria, La Otra Campaña and many other social protests, and that they had turned out on this occasion for a specific reason: “because we want all society to find out about the abuse of power and the bad example that the irresponsible president has set, by pardoning Vivian Lubrano, Franco Badía, Antonio Marte, Alfredo Pulinario (Cambita), Amaro Guzmán and Gervasio de la Rosa”.
They pointed out that the president is a lawyer and that he took the decision in full awareness of the law, and that by doing so he puts himself alongside these social pariahs. The law on pardons was not fulfilled because the legal requisites were not present: “serve half the sentence and show good behavior in prison. Shame on my country!”
“If you are poor and you steal a salami, a chicken or a papaya, they sentence you to 30 years, but if you are rich and a bank manager and you swindle the State, you will only get five years, and you will even get pardoned by the president”, they declared.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
from the photo it appears that this group of young Idealistic protesters are pretty middle class looking and good for them ....they the educated ones must change the direction of the ship of state ...It has been adrift for to long ...DECADES....I hope they do not lose their enthusiasm as they are plied with consumer goods and an easy lifestyle by their parents and the political swindlers that surround them
From: United States
“If you are poor and you steal a salami, a chicken or a papaya, they sentence you to 30 years, but if you are rich and a bank manager and you swindle the State, you will only get five years, and you will even get pardoned by the president”, they declared.
Shout it loud and long.
Your political 'master' do this to keep you down and ignorant.
Do NOT let this continue.
Written by: josean, 30 Dec 2008 9:21 AM
From: United States
" hope they do not lose their enthusiasm as they are plied with consumer goods and an easy lifestyle by their parents and the political swindlers that surround them "
Your projecting again Chauncey. Not everyone is a sell out!
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
As this of the presidential pardon is a christmas tradition, I am sure there were some people in jail who really deserve to be taken into account for the decision, but as usual, money, politics and corruption prevail.
Written by: zak325, 30 Dec 2008 10:41 AM
From: United States
Even the affluent class is embarassed by the shameless behavior of the President, hard to believe I used to like Fernandez.
Written by: juanb, 30 Dec 2008 11:10 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Too bad that we lack a recall mechanism to get this bum out of the Presidential Palace.
From: United States, Washington, D.C.
Inspiring.... I hope that peaceful demonstrations like this continue. ANd if these don't work to change the minds of the politicos, peaceful civil disobedience is next. All this until we can elect a government that really cares about the putting people first.
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo and Punta Cana
On the image I can see that four eyes can not hold the paper as he is so busy with his microfone.
It seams that in audiance is a tourist with moustaches on the right side, and a chinese theater actor on the left side (face painted in white, ina red dress). Also Morena in the front row, is so sad, probably thinking about the rise and beans.
From: United States, Bronx NY
Common on Mr. President how can you pardon these criminals; the rich and politically strong always get away with so much crap. Until D.R. hold accountable these times of crimes D.R. will be looked at as a joke.
It happens here in the U.S. too IT'S TOTALLY WRONG!
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo and Punta Cana
As far as I Can see (a favorite one), is that old people are making comments about what Dominican youth feels.
Entonces, veo que solo viejos hacen comentarios que lo que piensa juventud Dominicana.
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo and Punta Cana
gmiller,
Haitian who has stolen a salami will go two years at least if hes lucky.
From: Dominican Republic, Boycott Dominican Tourism
I am glad he pardoned them, now everyone knows on what side Leonel stands on. All those PLD fools that voted for him, PRD are fools too. I say if Dominicans don’t do anything they deserve everything that’s coming to them.
LF does things like this because we allow him to, Are we so numb to corruption?
From: United States
Pilate asks what says the rabble ... Barrabas or Leonel? Free the crook or the...er...
Written by: Trujillo, 1 Jan 2009 9:41 AM
From: Dominican Republic
I find that the justice system is too weak, not just the "wealthy" are benefiting from this weakness.
From: Canada
I am glad I found this article and I am glad that this group of smart men and women came out and peaked out. Because it is true, someone steals a TV and he is thrown in jailed and the key disappears, you steal billions and you are a financier in stress. In North America this is expressed differently, they say, " kill a person and you are a murderer, kill 200 and you are a conqueror" I think that is the philosophy that the Dominican president believes in upon granting these pardons. That is a joke.
http://nicolasdelvalle.wordpress.....cia-dominicana-sinonimo-de-burla/
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Shout it loud and long.
Your political 'master' do this to keep you down and ignorant.
Do NOT let this continue.
Your projecting again Chauncey. Not everyone is a sell out!
It seams that in audiance is a tourist with moustaches on the right side, and a chinese theater actor on the left side (face painted in white, ina red dress). Also Morena in the front row, is so sad, probably thinking about the rise and beans.
It happens here in the U.S. too IT'S TOTALLY WRONG!
Entonces, veo que solo viejos hacen comentarios que lo que piensa juventud Dominicana.
Haitian who has stolen a salami will go two years at least if hes lucky.
LF does things like this because we allow him to, Are we so numb to corruption?