48 years ago the journalist was murdered orlando martinez in the surroundings of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD)).
His crime was a blow to the freedom of the press and to the very society that he saw in the pages of his column “Microscope”of the magazine “Now”the acid criticism that he often leveled at the government of Joaquín Balaguer and, often in particular, against his high military commanders.
He was a declared communist militant, but he was also a brainy journalist and quite frontal. In fact, he was so radical that he would never forgive the Spanish singer Camilo Sesto or “Camilochet” (as he called him in one of his writings), for performing his songs at the Viña del Mar Festival in Chile, because according to Orlando, with singing on that platform vindicated the dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Orlando did not hesitate to point out the police outrages or the terror that had pervaded many social sectors that were mostly adverse to Balaguerism. He also did not blink when pointing his pen towards the happy “commissions” that were formed from the Government to “solve” some political crime.
He also strongly criticized the investigations into the case of the murder of Gregorio Garcia Castro (Goyito), reason for which he received numerous death threats. Such criticism was due to the fact that his murderer, Lieutenant Juan María Arias Sánchez, would be promoted to captain after the crime.
The constant denunciations of corruption and abuse involving military sectors placed him in a totally vulnerable situation. And it is that Orlando had good sources and handled information that few had. your column “Microscope” It was required reading since each publication contained new elements that were harmful to the interests of uniformed chiefs who, according to gossip, were surprised by the level of knowledge that the journalist had.
Many attribute the death of Orlando to his last column “Why not, Dr. Balaguer?”, a fierce criticism of the president and the military in general. Myths have emerged from this writing that have become true over time, for example a phrase (or death sentence) that is attributed to Balaguer and that has never been verified by anyone: “That boy won’t let me work.”
Another myth is that they didn’t want to kill Orlando, but it was all to scare him because of his sharp tone against the government.
Although it is true that many people who knew Orlando describe him as a handsome guy (without fear) who carried a firearm to use in case they went for him. It is still true that he could not draw it, so there was no time to scare anyone but to execute someone.
A long wait
Orlando Martínez’s crime would remain in absolute silence for 22 years. On that journey his younger brother edmundo martinezwho made inquiries to resolve the incident, would also end up beaten to death with a bullet to the head, just nine months after the journalist’s death.
Orlando’s parents would be received on several occasions by Balaguer at the National Palace. From there they would leave with promises that his case would be resolved. However, this was never possible. The 12-year periods (1966-1978), the governments of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (1978-1986) and the return of the reformist leader (1986-1996) had to pass for part of the truth to be revealed.
Only in 1997 could the material authors of the murder be tried, which gave some clarity to those who were able to sign their death sentence.
For the crime, the ex-military men were sentenced to 30 years Joaquín Pou Castro, Mariano Durán Cabrera, Rafael Lluberes Ricart and Emilio de la Rosawho was a civilian.
The mastermind(s) of the crime was never identified…
the blank page
In his work Memoirs of a Courtier in the era of TrujilloBalaguer refers for the only time to the murder of Orlando Martínez.
On page 295 of his book he says: “This page is inserted blank. She will remain mute for many years, but one day she will speak, so that her voice will be recorded by history. Silent, like a tomb whose open secret will rise, accusing, when time allows to raise the slab under which the truth remains lying.
20 years after Balaguer’s death, the page is still not filled and the slab is still cemented. Not even with a letter or an epitaph, just as absent as the satisfactory results that were expected after creating multiple “commissions” to solve the mystery.
