US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO4725

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 004725 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA,DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, PGOV, DR, ASEC, Human Rights, Labor 
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - REGIONAL PROTESTS PRECEDED BY 
TWO SHOOTING DEATHS 
 
1.  On October 19 protests in central streets shut portions 
of the major provincial city of  Santiago and surrounding 
areas.  Demonstrators demanded changes in the government,s 
economic policies and price reductions on basic food 
products, gas, and electricity. The strike stopped many of 
the public transport cars and buses. Organizers Victor Breton 
of the Extended Front for the People (FALPO), Juan Marte of 
the National Transport Confederation (CONATRA), and the 
Father Rogelio Cruz of Organization of Populist Groups had 
called for a 24-hour strike.  Clashes in the streets left 
several persons injured.  Two persons were shot dead in the 
early hours of the morning before the strike actually 
started; one was an assistant to PLD congressman Juan 
Serulle.  A total of 57 organizations backed the work 
stoppage. 
 
2. Populist leaders said the effort had achieved 90 percent 
participation in 14 provinces of Cibao.  Puerta Plata, Bonao, 
La Vega, Saman, and Nagua were not affected.  Various 
institutions suspended classes, including Nordestana Catholic 
University, the Northeast Regional University (Curne), and 
all the state and private schools in the Northern region 
suspended classes.  One news daily reported 7 serious 
injuries and over 100 arrests.  The southwestern city of 
Barahona was affected by street protests as well; two 
onlookers were injured by stray bullets. 
 
3.   There have been no complaints concerning the actions of 
the security forces.  Police in Santiago are reported to be 
holding 45 persons under arrest.  Presidential press 
spokesman Roberto Nunez called the demonstrations 
insignificant: "They said they would shut down 14 provinces 
and failed even to affect two."  He denounced "hooded 
individuals using rifles." 
 
4. The Attorney General,s office and the police are 
investigating the case.  Leaders of the Dominican Liberation 
Party (PLD) blamed strike organizers.  PLD leader Julio Cesar 
Valentin, said he had information that those responsible were 
from FALPO and the PRD.  Santiago governor Jose Izquierdo 
blamed FALPO and the PRD.  FALPO spokesperson Victor Breton 
said the deaths resulted from an assault carried out by two 
unknown individuals; strike organizers emphatically offered 
to turn themselves into the district attorney for 
questioning, to prove their innocence. 
Secretary of Interior and Police Franklin Almeida said that 
 
SIPDIS 
there are "political groups interested in creating problems" 
behind the violent incidents. 
 
5.  FALPO has a history of protest activity, including two 
country-wide work stoppages in the last year of the Mejia 
administration.  It has virtually no presence in the capital, 
Santo Domingo.  Since June the group has organized several 
marches, protests and work stoppages in the central Cibao 
region.   On October 13, FALPO led a march of more than 100 
persons in Santiago demanding more investment in public 
infrastructure. 
BRINEMAN