Dominican Republic

DECEMBER 20, 2006
Posted: January 12, 2007
Julián Herrera, Clave and Clave Digital
THREATENED

Herrera, a columnist who covers the armed forces for the Santo Domingo-based weekly Clave and the Internet daily Clave Digital, said in an interview with CPJ that he has been threatened and followed by unidentified individuals after reporting on corruption in the Dominican armed forces.

JULY 27, 2006
Posted August 8, 2006

Anaylis Cañizales, “Los dueños del circo”
Enrique Crespo, “Los dueños del circo”
Alí David Demey, “Los dueños del circo”
LEGAL ACTION

A Santo Domingo judge found Cañizales, Crespo, and Demey guilty of criminal defamation, after charges were brought in June by the Association of Art Reporters (Acroarte). The journalists were sentenced to 15 days in jail each. Crespo and Demey were fined 4 million Dominican pesos (US$121,000), and Cañizales was fined 2 million Dominican pesos (US$60,500).

New York, March 9, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the abduction and attempted murder of a Dominican crime reporter early Wednesday morning. Unidentified assailants seized Roberto Sandoval outside his Santo Domingo home and threatened to kill him, according to news reports and a CPJ source. Sandoval escaped by jumping from a moving vehicle as his attackers fired at him.

The journalist hosts two daily programs in the capital, Santo Domingo: “Tribuna de la Noche” on Radio Comercial, and “Justo a Tiempo” on local cable television. Sandoval often reports on crime and is critical of Dominican law enforcement, colleague Ruddy Germán Pérez told CPJ.