SANTIAGO.- The strikes called Monday in Mirabal and Monseñor Noel province to demand public works were lifted yesterday by their organizers, after government and municipal authorities pledged to attend their the demands.
The 72 hour shutdown in Salcedo (north) convened by popular and merchant groups was lifted after a meeting in the provincial government offices, where government officials promised to begin today the repairs in a local road that links various mountain towns with the urban center.
Public Works vice minister Sergio Hernandez, who participated in the meeting, said the work will cost more than RD$200 million and would be ready in 12 months.
In Bonao (central), most of the businesses opened their doors yesterday morning, whereas schools, transport and all productive activities were resumed.
The spokesman of the organizations in Bonao, Juan Liranzo, said they agreed to grant the Government 30 days to meet their demands, including the immediate reduction of prices on basic staples, the immediate conclusion of the buildings of the State University campus, a final solution to the water shortage problem, an end to the blackouts, among others demands.
In San José de las Matas (northwest), a group called the Mountain Struggle Council yesterday staged a general strike that lasted 12 hours, to demand repairs on several deteriorated highways.
More than 30 communities in the municipality joined the protest to demand the reconstruction of the San José-Matanzas-El Rubio-Santiago highway, and the Council said the strike aims to get the government to quickly solve the problems that affect that zone.
From: Pakistan, Lahore
when "democratic" leaders don't represent the political interest of the people, then they should be ready for this type of extraordinary actions by the public.
These strikes and overall disillusionment is the result of the lack of representative democracy we have.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
this is a slippery slope the government is on .....it had better be careful or it will be taken advantage of by troublemakers.....it should have acted sooner ...next time there will be more violence
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
and next time will be soon ....
From: United States
GC, can you explain to me how else can disillusioned, disadvantaged people articulate their grievances? you are really enigmatic. for a man with such a well developed sense of decency, you sure know how to speak against your basic instincts of fairness and justice.
Written by: Gringo_1, 26 Mar 2009 8:39 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Maimon (Bonao)
In some sectors of Salcedo, youths supporting the protest fired on police, burned tires, blocked streets and detonated homemade bombs.
Police responded by discharging their own weapons and firing tear gas, as Efe was able to verify.
“The police are shooting at us to kill and, because we’re also armed, we’re responding to the attack,” one of the masked protesters told reporters.
Spokesmen for the Salcedo Community Organizations Council, Domingo Brito and Rafael Ramos, told the press that the general strike could be extended if the authorities fail to respond favorably to the protesters’ demands.
They said that Salcedo is one of the “most forgotten” municipalities in the country and that its basic services are deficient.
In Bonao, where a protest atmosphere has prevailed since Monday evening, unknown attackers hurled two homemade bombs at city hall.
Protests demanding improvements in basic services spread on Monday to the municipality of Hatillo Palma, in the northweste
Written by: Gringo_1, 26 Mar 2009 8:39 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Maimon (Bonao)
Two Hurt in Protests in Dominican Republic
SALCEDO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Two people were injured and 25 arrested by police in protests staged in four towns in the northern Dominican Republic to demand improvements to roads and other infrastructure, lower food prices and an end to chronic electricity shortages.
One of the injured is Ivan Rodriguez, who was shot in the chest during clashes between demonstrators and police in the Rabo Duro sector of the municipality of Salcedo, where a 72-hour general strike was begun on Tuesday.
Rodriguez is in serious condition, according to doctors caring for him at the public hospital in Salcedo.
Another man, who has not yet been identified, was also shot during the protests that occurred in the town of Bonao.
The demonstrations have been the most violent in Salcedo, Piedra Blanca and Bonao, where clashes between the police and protesters – some of the latter wearing masks and carrying assorted weapons – were becoming even more intense.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
dread as I said this is a slippery slope ....the local governments should have addressed these problems sooner .....now violence has been rewarded and we await the next demand of the mob....what will it be and whos interests will it serve ? ...the thuggish sindicatos who think only of themselves ....yes it is a slippery slope
Written by: juanb, 26 Mar 2009 9:34 AM
From: Dominican Republic
As the government continues to make promises that it does not fulfill the anger and frustration will continue to rise. The people realize that we live in a "say whatever is necessary to get you off my back now" society. The motto of our elected officials is, "Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow".
From: United States
After jumping around various newspapers last night I was wondering how accurate a picture we are being given by DT.com and newspapers at large. Links to any comprehensive articles of what is going on across the nation with these protests/strikes in either language would be appreciated.
Written by: Gringo_1, 26 Mar 2009 1:31 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Maimon (Bonao)
Diario Libre reports today that strikes were settled after the government acceded to all of the demands by the various groups. While this is great news for the communities affected, I only fear that this will now spread across the whole nation. No mention of this on DT.
From: United States
When are we as people going to understand that if we fix, repair and preserve our country at the end we are the ones that will benefect from it.....I mean yet again I have to say, it is 2009 and a country such as ours so rich in so many ways specially when all d... senador, governors, sindicos, regidores, presidents all they done is rob still get rich and our country still has resources, it amazes me, I mean lets be honest even in america politicians take $$$ thats in every country difference is that they also do things for their communities, you know provincias, don't just sit there take take take and do nothing to improve your contituyentes lifes man....I mean on a personal level I might also take some for me if I get a good position but I would also do my job and try to do what is best for the majority of our countryman and woman
Written by: Gringo_1, 26 Mar 2009 3:35 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Maimon (Bonao)
It is more than just putting a road in. Once built, people need to respect it an maintain it. How many times do we see people throwing plastic out of their cars or front doors into rivers?
We built a new asphalt road for a local community this month as fulfillment of a promise we made three years ago. Everyone is happy (other than complaining about the speed of vehicles now) , but I fear that next week they will be burning tires and destroying the new paving ruining a US$300k project.
From: Dominican Republic
The poor continues to bribe and terrorize the Dominican society. Where is the freaking urgency for fixing pot holes on the streets or lowering prices driven by greedy distributors? Given the worldwide recession, and the poor now want PAPA Government to subsidize every aspect of their life?
Shut up, work, behave and suck it up! We are tired of gangs of unemployed taking over towns and destroying property and disturbing the peaceful flow of commerce and the Dominican life!
This no way (violence and blockade) to discuss differences or settle grievances! This is politically driven by the opposition!
BY THE WAY WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY! WE ARE A REPUBLIC! KNOW THE DIFFERENCES! REPRESENTATION MAKES DECISIONS (NOT NECESSARILY IN LINE WITH THE MAJORITY)! CAPICHE?
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
more dogs gas and rubber bullets for the trouble makers
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These strikes and overall disillusionment is the result of the lack of representative democracy we have.
Police responded by discharging their own weapons and firing tear gas, as Efe was able to verify.
“The police are shooting at us to kill and, because we’re also armed, we’re responding to the attack,” one of the masked protesters told reporters.
Spokesmen for the Salcedo Community Organizations Council, Domingo Brito and Rafael Ramos, told the press that the general strike could be extended if the authorities fail to respond favorably to the protesters’ demands.
They said that Salcedo is one of the “most forgotten” municipalities in the country and that its basic services are deficient.
In Bonao, where a protest atmosphere has prevailed since Monday evening, unknown attackers hurled two homemade bombs at city hall.
Protests demanding improvements in basic services spread on Monday to the municipality of Hatillo Palma, in the northweste
SALCEDO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Two people were injured and 25 arrested by police in protests staged in four towns in the northern Dominican Republic to demand improvements to roads and other infrastructure, lower food prices and an end to chronic electricity shortages.
One of the injured is Ivan Rodriguez, who was shot in the chest during clashes between demonstrators and police in the Rabo Duro sector of the municipality of Salcedo, where a 72-hour general strike was begun on Tuesday.
Rodriguez is in serious condition, according to doctors caring for him at the public hospital in Salcedo.
Another man, who has not yet been identified, was also shot during the protests that occurred in the town of Bonao.
The demonstrations have been the most violent in Salcedo, Piedra Blanca and Bonao, where clashes between the police and protesters – some of the latter wearing masks and carrying assorted weapons – were becoming even more intense.
We built a new asphalt road for a local community this month as fulfillment of a promise we made three years ago. Everyone is happy (other than complaining about the speed of vehicles now) , but I fear that next week they will be burning tires and destroying the new paving ruining a US$300k project.
Shut up, work, behave and suck it up! We are tired of gangs of unemployed taking over towns and destroying property and disturbing the peaceful flow of commerce and the Dominican life!
This no way (violence and blockade) to discuss differences or settle grievances! This is politically driven by the opposition!
BY THE WAY WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY! WE ARE A REPUBLIC! KNOW THE DIFFERENCES! REPRESENTATION MAKES DECISIONS (NOT NECESSARILY IN LINE WITH THE MAJORITY)! CAPICHE?