Dominican doctors complain of police brutality after protest
Santo Domingo, Jul 27 (EFE).- Police resorted to pepper spray and clubs Wednesday to break up a march by some 200 physicians to demand improvements in health care, the Dominican Medical Society (CMD) said.
The procession set out from Santo Domingo’s La Altagracia Maternity Hospital intending to reach the National Palace, the seat of government.
Police were out in force along the route and as the doctors approached the palace, the cops attacked them, CDM president Senen Caba said.
In response to the abuses by police, Caba called for the various unions and organizations representing health professionals to meet on Thursday “to evaluate the situation created by the stubbornness, deafness and mistreatment by a government that does not want to resolve the problems of the poor.”
“We are not here asking for a salary increase, we are here asking for better conditions for the people, and the government has police in the best butchering style of (former Colombian president) Alvaro Uribe, in the best style of the Pinochet police,” Caba said.
Health workers will not tolerate police brutality and the profession must give President Luis Abinader “the opportune response he deserves.”
The CMD organized Wednesday’s mobilization to press the government to re-open two hospitals and to unfreeze hiring at the country’s public hospitals in compliance with existing agreements.
EFE mmv/dr
