This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22424009
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Curacao politician Helmin Wiels shot dead | Curacao politician Helmin Wiels shot dead |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A prominent politician on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, Helmin Wiels, has been shot dead. | A prominent politician on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, Helmin Wiels, has been shot dead. |
Witnesses said he was killed on the beach by gunmen who sped off in a car. | Witnesses said he was killed on the beach by gunmen who sped off in a car. |
Mr Wiels, 54, led the Pueblo Soberano party, which campaigns for independence from the Netherlands. | Mr Wiels, 54, led the Pueblo Soberano party, which campaigns for independence from the Netherlands. |
Local media say it is the first time a politician has been assassinated in Curacao. Prime Minister Daniel Hodge said: "This act was horrendous, terrible, and we are in shock." | Local media say it is the first time a politician has been assassinated in Curacao. Prime Minister Daniel Hodge said: "This act was horrendous, terrible, and we are in shock." |
Beach attack | Beach attack |
"We are not accustomed to these things on the island," the prime minister said. | "We are not accustomed to these things on the island," the prime minister said. |
A motive for the killing remains unclear, but the Curacao government said Mr Wiels had received threats in the past. | A motive for the killing remains unclear, but the Curacao government said Mr Wiels had received threats in the past. |
Justice Minister Nelson Navarro said Mr Wiels had a security guard assigned to him after receiving the threats. | Justice Minister Nelson Navarro said Mr Wiels had a security guard assigned to him after receiving the threats. |
He also promised to increase security for all of Curacao's elected officials. | He also promised to increase security for all of Curacao's elected officials. |
Friends of Mr Wiels said he had sent his bodyguard home earlier in the day and was enjoying a beer on Marie Pompoen beach when two gunmen approached him and fired five shots. | Friends of Mr Wiels said he had sent his bodyguard home earlier in the day and was enjoying a beer on Marie Pompoen beach when two gunmen approached him and fired five shots. |
No one else was hurt in the attack. | No one else was hurt in the attack. |
A spokesman for the Pueblo Soberano party said they suspected organised crime to be behind the killing because of Mr Wiels's work in combating corruption. | A spokesman for the Pueblo Soberano party said they suspected organised crime to be behind the killing because of Mr Wiels's work in combating corruption. |
Mr Wiels's Pueblo Soberano party gained 22.6% of the votes in the 2012 election and holds five of the 21 seats in Curacao's parliament. | |
'Cowardly deed' | 'Cowardly deed' |
Mr Wiels was well known as a fervent supporter of cutting Curacao's ties with the Netherlands. | Mr Wiels was well known as a fervent supporter of cutting Curacao's ties with the Netherlands. |
Curacao is a former Dutch colony and now forms an independent country within the kingdom of the Netherlands, but it still relies on the Netherlands for defence and foreign policy. | Curacao is a former Dutch colony and now forms an independent country within the kingdom of the Netherlands, but it still relies on the Netherlands for defence and foreign policy. |
Mr Wiels had his own radio show in which he often discussed controversial issues affecting the island of about 150,000 people. | Mr Wiels had his own radio show in which he often discussed controversial issues affecting the island of about 150,000 people. |
On Friday, Mr Wiels had denounced alleged abuses committed by Curacao telecommunication company UTS in an interview with news site Versgeperst.com. | On Friday, Mr Wiels had denounced alleged abuses committed by Curacao telecommunication company UTS in an interview with news site Versgeperst.com. |
He accused UTS of involvement in the illegal sale of lottery numbers. | He accused UTS of involvement in the illegal sale of lottery numbers. |
The Curacao government said the Netherlands had offered to help with the investigation into Mr Wiels's murder. | The Curacao government said the Netherlands had offered to help with the investigation into Mr Wiels's murder. |
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the attack on Mr Wiels was a "cowardly deed". | Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the attack on Mr Wiels was a "cowardly deed". |
"Curacao has lost a driven politician who fought for his ideals and loved his country," Mr Rutte said. | "Curacao has lost a driven politician who fought for his ideals and loved his country," Mr Rutte said. |