Dominican Republic: Information on the Cascos Negros (Black Helmets) and whether they were involved in abuses against human rights groups
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | DOM24850.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Dominican Republic: Information on the Cascos Negros (Black Helmets) and whether they were involved in abuses against human rights groups, 1 March 1997, DOM24850.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aab134.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided in an 18 March 1997 telephone interview with the executive director of the Investigation, Documentation and Human Rights Institute (Instituto de Investigaciones, Documentación y Derechos Humanos, IIDDH), which is affiliated to the Domincian Center for Legal Counselling and Research (Centro Dominicano de Asesoría e Investigaciones Legales, CEDAIL) in Santo Domingo.
The expression "cascos negros" is a slang term for the anti-riot squad (departamento anti-motines) of the National Police. The name refers to the colour of the helmets that squad members wear as part of their uniform. The source stated that although there have been complaints and reports of the riot squad using excessive force to quell demonstrations, he was unaware of any human rights group or organization reporting abuse or mistreatment by the anti-riot squad or its members.
Attached please find a 7 March 1996 Latin American Weekly Report article on a human rights group that denounced the National Police for harbouring a death squad within its ranks, a 24 March 1995 Cuba Vision Network report on riots that resulted in the deaths of a protester and a police officer, and an excerpt from Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies which provides additional information on the riot-control unit of the National Police.
Additional information on whether the "cascos negros" were involved in abuses against human rights groups could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Instituto de Investigaciones, Documentatión y Derechos Humanos (IIDDH), Santo Domingo. 18 March 1997. Telephone interview with executive director.
Attachments
Cuba Vision Network [Havana, in Spanish]. 24 March 1995. "TV Reports Police Kill 1 in Riots in Dominican Republic." (FBIS-LAT-95-057 24 Mar. 1995) [Internet] , [Internet] [Accessed 16 Oct. 1996]
Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies. 1991. Edited by Richard A. Haggerty. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, pp. 187-189.
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 7 March 1996. "Dominican Republic: Death Squad," p. 108.
Additional Sources Consulted
Caribbean and Central America Report [London]. Monthly. Jan. 1995. Feb. 1996.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. 1994-1997.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Monthly. 1983-1994.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. Fortnightly. Jan. 1993-Feb. 1997.
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. Weekly. Jan. 1993-Mar. 1997.
Political Handbook of the World 1995-1996. 1996.
World Encyclopedia of Police Forces and Penal Systems. 1989.
On-line search of media sources.
Two sources consulted did not provide information on the requested subject.
