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The Human Rights Commission of the Chamber of Deputies summoned the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, General Ricardo Martínez, to explain the institution’s “lack of collaboration” within the framework of the investigations into the murder of the young Ecuadorian Romario Veloz ( 26), who died on October 20, 2019, after being shot in the middle of a protest in La Serena.
More than 10 months after the crime, the case remains without those responsible. On repeated occasions, Veloz’s family had noticed a slow progress in the investigations and a null collaboration on the part of the Army in the clarification of the facts. Yesterday, the mother of the victim, Mary Cortez, gave her testimony before the Commission, the same instance in which Martínez must appear this Monday, September 7.
“It has been ten months of frustration, of anguish, of helplessness, of finding myself against a rock and a hard place. Ten months of not knowing where to go, who to speak to or how to act so that these people react”, Mary Cortez, mother of Romario Veloz.
The family’s lawyer, Adriana Rojas, indicated that “we have great concerns about how the Army has delayed this process, has provided fragmentary information and this extends over time. The same soldiers who assassinated Romario are on the streets today carrying out health guards. We live in a small town and we constantly run into perpetrators. “
Also read: “Family demands to clarify the death of Romario Veloz in La Serena”
Rojas also pointed to a lack of help from the State in the case, stating that “here there are political decisions to ignore the victims of human rights violations”, which he described as “a permanent situation of the Government”. to the detriment of Romario and other victims in the context of social protests, also lamenting the lack of reparation.
“Concealment”
Deputy Daniel Nuñez (PC), also present at the last session of the Commission and a member of parliament who filed a criminal complaint for the death of Romario, indicated that there is “impunity” in the case and pointed out that “everything indicates that there is a of cover-up, of obstruction of justice by the Army, which has not provided all the information in this regard.
The parliamentarian added that “the shots that killed Romario and wounded two more workers were fired by the military,” but despite the passage of months, “it has not been possible to identify who they are who fired and bring them to justice.” .
Ten months of anguish
In conversation with El Día, Romario’s mother indicated that she is “happy” about the summons from the Human Rights Commission. However, “I am not going to say that I am satisfied, because nothing has been done yet, but for the moment I can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.
“It has been ten months of frustration, anguish, impotence, of finding myself against a rock and a hard place. Ten months of not knowing where to go, who to talk to or how to act so that these people react and allow them to assess the weapons, or do something to clarify the facts, “said Mary Cortéz in relation to the slow progress of the investigation.
Despite her frustration, she was hopeful that she would find justice for her son. “This is the first step,” he said.
Institutions
The lawyer Adriana Rojas indicated that in addition to the summons to General Martínez, various public institutions will be officiated “to help the Commission learn about what is happening in the investigation of this case. To the Regional Prosecutor’s Office, requesting greater speed, to the Ministry of Social Development, since this ministry would have denied aid to Maite, Romario’s daughter, who is 5 years old, and to re-evaluate the aid and the Ministry of Defense. “
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