General Enrique Pérez y Pérez died

Santo Domingo, RD.

Retired Major General Enrique Pérez y Pérez, who was chief of the army and national police between the 1960s and 1970s, died this morning.

His death took place at his residence, as this newspaper was able to confirm.

The first to report on the general’s death was journalist Orlando Gil, a columnist for the newspaper.

Pérez y Pérez has been the head of the National Police since January 1, 1971 and was credited with creating the so-called Anti-Communist and Anti-Terrorist Democratic Front known as the Banda Colorá, a repressive body that persecuted young students and opponents of the Joaquin Balaguer regime. .

General Pérez and Pérez had their origins in military ranks, becoming head of the Dominican army and minister of the armed forces in the provisional government of Dr. Héctor García-Godoy Cáceres.

Enrique Pérez y Pérez was chief of the army from 6 January 1966 to 26 February 1966; then from 29 December 1972 to 12 May 1975 and then again from 20 July 1978 to 30 September 1978.

While in charge of the National Police, he gave the following statement on crime in the country: “Criminals want to destroy the country; I advise them not to provoke me because I will face them with a heavy hand “.

“And I promise you (people) that I will be a defender of your property and everything you want the police to protect you.”

His period of action, for which he is best remembered, is during the “twelve years” of Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, between 1966 and 1978.

During that period, more than 3,000 Dominicans lost their lives in violence between 1966 and 1974, according to Dominican historian Frank Moya Pons in his book The Handbook of Dominican History.

August 8, 1971. Arsenio Rosario Alberto, 21, a student at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, killed the day before by the Banda Colorá, is buried. pic.twitter.com/5R663Ks4cd

– MMRD (@MuseoMRD) August 8, 2020

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