SANTO DOMINGO. - Police agents last night prevented the broadcast of the program "Nocturnal," which the journalist and critic of the Government Raul Perez Peña (Bacho) has been producing for 12 years in the company Cinevisión, several newspapers report today.
At once Dominican Journalist Guild (CDP) president Mercedes Castillo called it "a shameless aggression against the press and the freedom of expression" and asked the owner of Channel 19, Johnny Dahuajre, and the Government for an explanation. "It’s neither possible nor conceivable that in a democracy police agents prevent the broadcast of an opinion program."
She said the journalist Melton Pineda –also a critic of the Government- was also taken off the air from Channel 45 yesterday and announced a press conference for today.
One hour before the start of Perez’s show, which begins at 9 p.m., around 10 police agents headed by a colonel whose last name is Mieses blocked the access doors to the television station located on Bolivar and Abraham Lincoln avenues. "You cannot enter the company on orders," the colonel told Perez, when he went to begin his program.
Written by: josean, 3 Apr 2008 9:06 AM
From: United States
Democracy in action in Lie-onel Fernadez's and the PLD's METROLANDIA!
Notice how this is done will he is out of the country so he can claim "plausible denialability."
In other words" while the cat's away, the mice will play" or into his case the "Leon"!
How anybody can respect this government or vote for the PLD is beyond human comprehension.
From: United States
Goulet, my old buddy, can you weigh in with an opinion about this castro -style behaviour?
From: Dominican Republic
This incident is obviously a violation of the "Freedom of the Press" section of the Dominican Constitution!
If this violation is allowed to prevail and the perpetrators are not brought to justice by the Attorney General, then they might as well tear up the Constitution andburn it in Public.
I can think of no infraction of Civil Law that is more reprehensible than this act.
While i am not a citizen of theiscountry, I do sive here and live under the "protection" of the stipulations of the Constitution regarding my Civil Rights. To have those rights flaunted in such a manner is totally unacceptable and I demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
TB
Written by: Edward, 3 Apr 2008 4:37 PM
From: United States, Leominster, Massachusetts
If I were that ugly i wouldn't wanna be on tv anyway!
From: United States
apparently, Texas Bill, there is no section of the dominican constitution which is tantamount to the USA First Amendment. have you researched the dominican constitution to ascertain if freedom of speech is a constitutionally guaranteed right of all citizens? by the way; i do not ask you that question with any facetious intent. i simply mean that i have not done so myself, and have no idea if there are restrictions on free speech. we in the usa take it for granted, and it is inviolable by even the most powerful people. maybe it aint so here!!!
From: United States
Edward, do not lower yourself to such commentary. folks that heretofore took you seriously will have apprehensions in the future.
From: Dominican Republic
Dred:
Take a look at Art. 8., para 6 of the1994 Constitution. I think that will answer the question.
This is in Spanish and I am not very well founded in the language, but it appear that "Freedom of Speech" is guaranteed for all methods of communication, spoken or written.
That is theway I interpret my copy of the Constitution, at any rate.
TB
Written by: josean, 3 Apr 2008 8:50 PM
From: United States
It is interesting how people who would like DR to be a little New York or to model its modernity on the USA, limit this only to material infrastructure like the METRO.
However, when it comes to free speech, free press, transparency, separation of church and state, equality among the branches of government, they do not seem so interested in emulating these standards of a true modern democratic state.
Notice the absence of commentary from those here on DT, who very recently have elevated Lie-onel Fernandez to a world class statesmen, a Churchillian figure in the Caribbean, worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize, for his "performance" at the Rio meeting.
These are the individuals who foam at the mouth attacking Chavez and Fidel for restricting freedom of the press in their countries, and rightly so, but are silent when their hero Lie-onel is transforming, from Balaguer into Trujillo before their very eyes.
What hypocrisy!
From: Dominican Republic
DRY UP JOSEAN!
We couldcare less about what you think, since its ALWAYS NEGATIVE.
As to "hypocrisy", you area classified as the"epitome" of that word in my book.
TB
From: United States
thanks for the info, Texas Bill. if the constitution guarantees freedom of speech, how could something like this happen? i am sure the US STATE DEPARTMENT is not looking too kindly at this!
Written by: josean, 4 Apr 2008 7:52 AM
From: United States
In the Orwellian mind now truth is negativity and hypocrisy is a virtue.
Forgive them for they know not what they do.
From: United States
Texas Bill, i usually respect your even handed positions on issues, and your reluctance to pontificate recklessy on subjects which are not your forte. which is why your latest outburst against Josean disturbs me, if only for the irony contained within. after all, we are discussing the suppression of free speech in this thread : then you come along and command Josean to DRY UP, because his posts are always negative. negative to whom? is there supposed to be some mainstream opinion, and those who are at variance are de facto negative? isnt the true purpose of freedom of speech statutes the allowance of all opinions, however offensive they may be to certain individuals or groups? i know that in the USA ,that is the logic behind freedom of speech legislation!
From: United States
Believe me, no one is less tolerent of Josean than I am, but he simply exposes himself evey time he posts a message. His foolishness is the best argument against his silly ideas. Let him speak. He only shoots himself in the foot when he does.
Written by: josean, 4 Apr 2008 3:17 PM
From: United States
I guess building a METRO that runs on electrical power, in country where the electrical service is virtually non-existent doesn’t qualify as a "silly idea” or "exposes" the “foolishness” of those who support it.
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
I am way behind this article in time having just discovered it....this incident if true is frightening and also seems out of place....I am extremely curious to know what these people wanted to say and who stopped them from saying it......Dominican Today I hope can keep this story before us until it is cleared up.....Dred you are correct we can expect this behavior from Chavez or Correa but in this country it comes as a disconcerting surprise...I should hope this incident can be explained
Written by: josean, 5 Apr 2008 8:45 AM
From: United States
I wonder which one of these statements really reflect your honest postion regarding freedom of expression Mr. BiIl:
Written by: TexasBill, 25 Mar 2008 11:52 AM
The advent of the "Open Forum" by which the reading public is allowed to issue forth with commentaries on each article published is the best way to provide an avenue through which the exchange of ideas and controversy can gain audiences.
This is the single most contribution that Dominican Today has provided to their reaading public andfor that I am extremely grateful.
Such a policy is, to me, the most unique in the anals of Dominican journalism.
These pages have been fraught with controversial commentaries, both from the extreme left to the extreme right and have contributed to a better understanding of the adversity which governs our everyday thinking and actions.
Personally, I don't agree with many who post on these pages, but, like Patrick Henry, will "defend to the death their right to so express their opinion".
Written by: josean, 5 Apr 2008 8:49 AM
From: United States
Continued:
Dominican Today has provided the platform for those opinions with their "Post your Comments" section.
Continue forever this policy, Jorge.
TB
OR
Written by: TexasBill, 4 Apr 2008 12:14 AM
DRY UP JOSEAN!
We couldcare less about what you think, since its ALWAYS NEGATIVE.
As to "hypocrisy", you area classified as the"epitome" of that word in my book.
TB
Bill is it only the speech you agree with that you will "defend to the death their right to so express their opinion"?
You see Bill I will never ask you to stop speaking no matter if I agree with you or not, regardless which side of your mouth the statements are coming from.
However, I do want you to take note that some people may see these statements as inconsistent and yes, maybe even hypocritical!
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
ouch wild bill
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
even dred hit you with the pinata stick wild bill
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
freedom of speech above all ........but not to yell FIRE in a crowded theater or disco
Written by: josean, 5 Apr 2008 9:26 AM
From: United States
From: United States
what do you mean by "even dred"?.
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
bad choice of words on my part
From: United States
you are forgiven, Goulet. i personally think that the public should demand an explanation from Leonel on this issue. he should not be allowed a pass on this one ,simply because he was in Florida throwing baseballs into the dugout! the concept of agency applies here: the man was operating as his agent, and, as such, he is ultimately responsible for the event. if this was an extra-agency act, taken without direction by the actor, then this should be disclosed and the culprit disciplined. but in true and expected fashion, the government is going to keep quiet and hope the issue gets swallowed up by the news cycle: you know the drill. ignore the problem long enough and it will get exhausted and go away!!
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
is it possible the owner of channel 19 had the program shut down for reasons unrelated to politics ......let us hope so....this incident has overtones of the good old days,when journalists of integrity were an endangered occupation....and stooges of Balaguer et al controlled most of the press
From: United States
i understand your speculation, Goulet, but the broadcast was aborted by police agents. a directive must have been issued from on high to take this action. i hardly think it was done by two patrol cops on a yamaha 100 motoconcho, who were bored and looking for entertainment. someone in high places has to be held responsible, or, at the very least, full disclosure of the incident needs to be made to the public. this is a very serious episode which should give the public cause for concern. if it is allowed to pass away without full ventilation, who is to say what it portends for the future of a free and unfettered press?
Written by: josean, 5 Apr 2008 10:22 AM
From: United States
Is it not ironic, actually tragic, that this fascist act occurs at a "television station located on Bolivar and Abraham Lincoln avenues" two avenues named after two of the greatest liberators of the Americas!
Dr. Bosch must be rolling in his grave.
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
not rolling but spinning
From: United States
maybe it is time to consider re-naming those streets. any suggestions?
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
Lamumba and Guevara happy now dred ?
Written by: josean, 5 Apr 2008 10:29 AM
From: United States
Vincho and Trujillo Avenues
From: United States
only one pair, Goulet? come on! have another cup of cocoa and give it the old school try!!
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
Coard and Allende
From: United States
there! i knew you could do it if you only put your mind to it!
From: United States
Let's be a little more innovative. How about; Stalin and Hitler, Batista and Casto, Mussolini and Tito, Harpo and Chico.
From: United States
what's next, fellas? Dumb and Dumber?
Written by: josean, 5 Apr 2008 6:37 PM
From: United States
Dred,
I am not sure but there may be some legal prohibition in naming streets after the current president and vice president of the republic.
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
it never stopped your idol ......El leader
From: United States
jeez, Josean: you play rough!!
From: Dominican Republic
Well folks, I guess that ONCE AGAIN I have submitted to my Scots-Irish Temper and put my foot in my mouth. That seems to be coming about more frequently as I growolder and for that I apologize to one and all.
My promise--- I will not ever again tell ANYONE to DRY UP otr to SHUT UP.
BUT, I WILL engage my brain before releasing the brakes on my mouth or on my fingers.
Just be aware of that and remember it.
I have a fairly good command of the English language and will make use of that command to shoot you down if I think/feel you are overstepping the bounds of good deportment and/or common sense.
A few of you have really ticked me off, but only a few andthat few knows who they are, SO BEWARE! The EYES of TEXAS are upon YOU.
TB
From: United States
Hey there Tex, we all slip sometimes, but you are a big man to apologise like you did!! besides, you cant be all bad: my paternal grandfather is from Dunfermline. got the coat of arms to prove it!
From: Dominican Republic
Dred---Good on YOU!!
As an aside, to those of you who are forever hoistingthe Hammer and Sicle, I justnoted that goodole CUBA is turning to PRIVATE FARMS to alleviate the FOOD SHORTAGE in that country.
Who'd EVER have thought THAT would happen in that WONDERFUL COUNTRY of Proleteriat Rule???
Good ole Communism ismaybe FINALLY awakening to the fact that it all ain't what it is cracked up to be when they have to depend on PRIVATE ENTERPRISE to pull them out of the hole they've dug for themselves with their "Answer to the World" on Economics.
Look to me like their Productive Capacity has fallen behind the Bread Line full of the Proleteriat that have become too damn lazy to feed themselves!!
Where is that Great Vibrant Economy NOW???
TB
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
dunfermline?isnt that the place they dump the chemicals dred? that would explain a lot
From: United States
never been there myself, but maybe gramps had some mutated genes. thats the way the ball bounces..
From: United States
Texas Bill, i agree with you that the organisation of production in cuba does not allow for the individual to exercise his creativity. government should set guidelines, not control business. i made mention of my buddy in havana who ran an ice cream cart: the darn thing belonged to the state. that is plain asinine. government should be about the business of setting policy, not controlling hot dog carts. if they want to have an input, they can set price guidelines to control gouging, and health guidelines to make sure unscrupulous profiteers do not poison the public with six week old paletas. beyond that, i cannot see why they would want to be wrapped up in such diminimus activities.
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
because they want power over the poor little ice cream vendor
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Notice how this is done will he is out of the country so he can claim "plausible denialability."
In other words" while the cat's away, the mice will play" or into his case the "Leon"!
How anybody can respect this government or vote for the PLD is beyond human comprehension.
If this violation is allowed to prevail and the perpetrators are not brought to justice by the Attorney General, then they might as well tear up the Constitution andburn it in Public.
I can think of no infraction of Civil Law that is more reprehensible than this act.
While i am not a citizen of theiscountry, I do sive here and live under the "protection" of the stipulations of the Constitution regarding my Civil Rights. To have those rights flaunted in such a manner is totally unacceptable and I demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
TB
Take a look at Art. 8., para 6 of the1994 Constitution. I think that will answer the question.
This is in Spanish and I am not very well founded in the language, but it appear that "Freedom of Speech" is guaranteed for all methods of communication, spoken or written.
That is theway I interpret my copy of the Constitution, at any rate.
TB
However, when it comes to free speech, free press, transparency, separation of church and state, equality among the branches of government, they do not seem so interested in emulating these standards of a true modern democratic state.
Notice the absence of commentary from those here on DT, who very recently have elevated Lie-onel Fernandez to a world class statesmen, a Churchillian figure in the Caribbean, worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize, for his "performance" at the Rio meeting.
These are the individuals who foam at the mouth attacking Chavez and Fidel for restricting freedom of the press in their countries, and rightly so, but are silent when their hero Lie-onel is transforming, from Balaguer into Trujillo before their very eyes.
What hypocrisy!
We couldcare less about what you think, since its ALWAYS NEGATIVE.
As to "hypocrisy", you area classified as the"epitome" of that word in my book.
TB
In the Orwellian mind now truth is negativity and hypocrisy is a virtue.
Forgive them for they know not what they do.
Written by: TexasBill, 25 Mar 2008 11:52 AM
The advent of the "Open Forum" by which the reading public is allowed to issue forth with commentaries on each article published is the best way to provide an avenue through which the exchange of ideas and controversy can gain audiences.
This is the single most contribution that Dominican Today has provided to their reaading public andfor that I am extremely grateful.
Such a policy is, to me, the most unique in the anals of Dominican journalism.
These pages have been fraught with controversial commentaries, both from the extreme left to the extreme right and have contributed to a better understanding of the adversity which governs our everyday thinking and actions.
Personally, I don't agree with many who post on these pages, but, like Patrick Henry, will "defend to the death their right to so express their opinion".
Dominican Today has provided the platform for those opinions with their "Post your Comments" section.
Continue forever this policy, Jorge.
TB
OR
Written by: TexasBill, 4 Apr 2008 12:14 AM
DRY UP JOSEAN!
We couldcare less about what you think, since its ALWAYS NEGATIVE.
As to "hypocrisy", you area classified as the"epitome" of that word in my book.
TB
Bill is it only the speech you agree with that you will "defend to the death their right to so express their opinion"?
You see Bill I will never ask you to stop speaking no matter if I agree with you or not, regardless which side of your mouth the statements are coming from.
However, I do want you to take note that some people may see these statements as inconsistent and yes, maybe even hypocritical!
http://www.elcaribecdn.com.do/art....A0B89C87BB23E528717&Seccion=3
Is it not ironic, actually tragic, that this fascist act occurs at a "television station located on Bolivar and Abraham Lincoln avenues" two avenues named after two of the greatest liberators of the Americas!
Dr. Bosch must be rolling in his grave.
I am not sure but there may be some legal prohibition in naming streets after the current president and vice president of the republic.
My promise--- I will not ever again tell ANYONE to DRY UP otr to SHUT UP.
BUT, I WILL engage my brain before releasing the brakes on my mouth or on my fingers.
Just be aware of that and remember it.
I have a fairly good command of the English language and will make use of that command to shoot you down if I think/feel you are overstepping the bounds of good deportment and/or common sense.
A few of you have really ticked me off, but only a few andthat few knows who they are, SO BEWARE! The EYES of TEXAS are upon YOU.
TB
As an aside, to those of you who are forever hoistingthe Hammer and Sicle, I justnoted that goodole CUBA is turning to PRIVATE FARMS to alleviate the FOOD SHORTAGE in that country.
Who'd EVER have thought THAT would happen in that WONDERFUL COUNTRY of Proleteriat Rule???
Good ole Communism ismaybe FINALLY awakening to the fact that it all ain't what it is cracked up to be when they have to depend on PRIVATE ENTERPRISE to pull them out of the hole they've dug for themselves with their "Answer to the World" on Economics.
Look to me like their Productive Capacity has fallen behind the Bread Line full of the Proleteriat that have become too damn lazy to feed themselves!!
Where is that Great Vibrant Economy NOW???
TB