SAN CRISTOBAL. – What began as a broad security operation with more than two thousand military and police personnel andn the streets of Saint Christopher ended up being rated by many residents asmo “a simple media show”, “apparatus” and “bulk”, after the deployment was drastically reduced just days after it began.
The morning of Friday, November 7the inhabitants of the main municipality woke up with corners, shops and entrances to heavily militarized popular sectorsin response to a series of violent events that, so far this year, have claimed the lives of three merchants during armed robberies.
“We spent Friday and Saturday with the (military) guards on every corner, crowding around. They can’t be seen anymore, they threw away the photos and left,” a motorist told El Día.
More than 2,000 agents and soldiersAccording to official reports, they were deployed with automatic weapons, motorcycles and police trucks parked at different strategic points in the city.
Fear and distrust
“We are living between fear and anxiety,” he said. a resident of the area Old Mother Northwho asked not to reveal his identity.
She said that the wave of robberies has forced her to change her daily routine.
“I no longer go to the gym at night for fear of being robbed. You don’t carry anything, but they still hurt you. These criminals walk without fear, they don’t even fear the Police, and patrolling is very minimal,” she said.
The young woman considered the inclusion of soldiers in the patrols to be positive, although she regretted that the measure seemed temporary.
“If they only come for a few days and then leave, everything will be the same,” he said.
Residents claim that assaults occur in broad daylightwhile fear and distrust grow among merchants and families.
Government response
Faced with growing insecurity, the Government ordered the militarization of the province of San Cristóbalwith patrols by air and land coordinated between National Army and the National Policein a joint operation of a nature preventive and indefinite.
The measure was announced after the visit of President Luis Abinader last Thursday, within the framework of the 181st anniversary of the Constitutionand after strong claims from businessmen, merchants and community leaders, who carried out a vigil for peace and security.
Business clamor
The president of San Cristóbal Business Council, Vlamirdi Ruizwarned that crime represents a “direct threat to the economic development of the province” and urged the National Police to “Be honest about your internal weaknesses.” that could be affecting your ability to respond.
One of the events that caused the most outrage was the murder of the merchant Alberto Esteban Vázquez Valdez46 years old, killed inside his business by armed criminals.
According to figures from the authorities and business associations themselves, seven merchants have been killed during robberies in the last two years in the province.
joint operation
The spokesperson of the National Police, Colonel Diego Pesqueiraexplained that it was a “preventive intervention” aimed at reducing criminal acts and restoring tranquility in the area.
“We are taking prevention as the spearhead. The president heard the cry of the community members, and that is why we are here to bring peace and harmony to all citizens,” said Pesqueira.
The operation, coordinated by the Joint Task Forceinvolves more than 2,000 military and police personnelincluding units of the Armythe Air Force and the Dominican Republic Navy.
The deployment covers the entire provincefrom the urban area to rural and coastal areas, with special attention to the sectors previously identified as hotspots of crime.
