Dominican Republic Strike shuts down country

[SmashCapitalism]

We just had a big workers' strike down here, supported by the main communist party, La Fuerza de la Revolucion, along with a bunch of other organizations. The strike was mainly because everyone was angry about the bad living conditions for the poor, such as some provinces where 60% of children are malnutritioned, and the hard cost of living. From what I understand and saw, the strike was a big success, a lot of businesses and transportation organizations shut down.

You can read about it and see some pictures at: http://fuerzadelarevolucion.org/fr_cms/index.php

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Dominican Strike Resounding, Says Popular Leader

Santo Domingo, July 9 (Prensa Latina) National strike in the Dominican Republic is a resounding popular referéndum in rejection of the government economic and social policies, said a spokesman for the Alternative Social Forum (FSA), Victor Jeronimo.

In remarks to Prensa Latina on Monday, the popular leader expressed satisfaction about mass support given to the strike countrywide, and said that the demonstration has caused despair among officials who wish to be re-elected.

The chief of police himself visited stores in main Duarte Avenue to reassure owners and ask them to keep their shops opened. However, consumers have remained at home, said Geronimo.

This has been a demonstration of unity and prudence from several sectors of the Dominican society, with the only common point to fight current neoliberal policy and demand a list of basic people's needs, including an increase in salaries, job promotion and cuts in food prices.

Other key elements to denounce before public opinion are an increase in repression, media manipulation and infiltration of paramilitary forces within the ranks of the protest.

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Protests Shut Down DR against Hunger

Santo Domingo, Jul 9 (Prensa Latina) The national strike in the Dominican Republic started well and keeps the country s activities at standstill to protest the current government policy causing hunger, Alternative Social Forum (FSA) coordinator Jesus Adon asserted on Monday.

In statements to Prensa Latina at the Dominican Teacher Association (ADP) s headquarters in Santo Domingo, where the strike coordinator s office was established, Adon denounced that the police forces killed an activist in the city of Navarrete.

The leader called for citizens "not to be provoked by the authorities or individuals paid by them to maintain a situation of anxiety and stay at home," he said.

Fid el Santana, FSA member and coordinator of the People' s Struggle Broad Front, reported that there is no activity in the country s main highways and roads, and there is almost none in the streets.

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General strike concludes in Dominican Republic, 1 dead, 5 injured

SANTO DOMINGO.- The national strike convened by the Alternative Social Forum concluded peacefully with the workday and industrial activities partially reduced, and passenger transport almost totally.

The National Business Council said the employee absenteeism level in factories was about 35 percent.

The strike promoters said the walkout as "successful" and announced an assembly on the 28th to evaluate its results and verify if the Government has responded to its demands.

The Police said 5 people were injured by gunfire from its agents and by explosive devices set off by demonstrators in San Francisco (northeast) and Santiago (north).

In Navarrete (northwest) Rafael de Jesus Tavárez was shot dead in circumstances as yet unclear.

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Dominican Government warns the strike organizers

SANTO DOMINGO.- National Police chief Bernardo Santana since yesterday ordered the deployment of police reinforcements in the Dominican capital’s main districts and in areas of the interior, to guarantee the order during strike called for today by the umbrella group Alternative Social Forum.

Santana advised the strike’s organizers they’ll be held responsible for any criminal action that can occur.

Meanwhile, the Presidency’s Press director Rafael Núñez said Government maintains its efforts to strike a dialog. "If they (the strikers) are determined to stage their strike so be it, then we will do everything to guarantee order and public peace."

In Santiago, 3 people were wounded yesterday when a homemade bomb exploded in the Cienfuegos sector.

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Dominican social entities reiterate call to strike

SANTO DOMINGO. – Amid support and rejection from different sectors, the Alternative Social Forum –an umbrella group composed of diverse social organizations- reiterated its call to strike next Monday and rejects the Government’s request to dialogue.

Strike organizers say the Government’s call to dialogue aims only to distract, and advised they’ll forge ahead with their struggle.

Social Forum coordinator Víctor Gerónimo said instead of promises they want real solutions to their demands. "We are tired of wordiness, the Government has administratively allocated funds for the Metro and many other things, it can arrange a general wage increase and address the demands of the people via that same route, we don’t want wordiness we already are tired of that. What we want is solutions to the evils that affect us, the strike goes for next Monday."

Strike support comes from teachers to farmers unions, though other major associations had stated their rejection, including at least two drivers union, which vow to offer service as long as the authorities guarantee secure transit.

"Next May 16 all citizens will have the opportunity to change or to support the candidate to improve the situation, but meanwhile strike doesn’t resolve, it only leaves detainees and deaths, and for that reason we reject it," said Anastasio González, head of the Unatrafin drivers union.

The truckers grouped in the Dominican National Transport Federation said it also rejects the strike, and complained that the organizers didn’t take them into account.

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Strike organizers are warned against violence, vandalism

Santo Domingo.- Justice minister Radhamés Jiménez today Wednesday warned he’ll file charges against the leaders of unions which organize a general strike for next Monday, if the protest alters the public order or prompts vandalism.

Although the official said he recognizes the right to protest, he urged them to channel any initiative via the legal and constitutional routes, without altering the public peace or causing damages to property.

The Alternative Social Forum called a national strike for Monday to demand the government change its economic policy, lower the cost of living, restore the water service and improve the electric service, among other community grievances.

Yesterday, Armed Forces minister Ramon Aquino said the members of the military were ready to provide support to the Police during the protests.



The Alternative Social Forum’s leaders, Victor Geronimo, Jesus Adon and Fidel Santana, and in the city Santiago, Victor Breton, rejected the warnings from the officials and reiterated the call to strike at noon Wednesday.

Jimenez said competing political interests are behind the groups that called the strike, and whose only interest is to bring about chaos and disorder to discredit the government. "I warn those calling the strike, that if people were to be attacked by demonstrators, if they alter the public order or produce damages to public or deprived property, we are going to place them under the courts of justice."

Jiménez, speaking in the Hoy Mismo program on Channel 9, warned the strike leaders against repeating what occurred in the protest earlier this year when several people were burned after a homemade incendiary bomb was thrown into a bus.

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Major Dominican highways easily fall prey to protests

Santo Domingo.- The Duarte highway, the country’s most important thoroughfare, has become the main arena for groups of "community leaders" to stage protests aimed at voicing grievances, by blocking transit in both directions.

The problem is that it’s the only route linking the capital city Santo Domingo with the country’s most important region, and crosses sectors of the population with easy access to the route.

This also occurs though to a lesser extent in the Las Americas highway, where the inhabitants of adjacent barrios aren’t dissuaded by the high retaining wall which divides the lanes.

As far as the 6 of November highway, the other major route and which links the country’s southern provinces, the cases of strikes aren’t as common, though the various bus drivers unions have claimed responsibility for staging violent protests which also block transit.

In the Duarte, whenever residents in the Pedro Brand, Pantoja and Los Alcarrizos, sectors -14 to 22 kilometers north of Santo Domingo- take the route they paralyze transit, as occurred Monday and yesterday.

Traffic to and from the Central Cibao region was stalled for more than 5 hours.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

This was a serious event. I'm surprised no one has any comments.

[Cheung Mo]

So is anyone that surprised that poor are tired of being lied to by social democrats (typically that which rules the DR) over and over again?