SANTO DOMINGO. - Navy Chief of Staff Homero Lajara today defended the honor of rear admiral Jose Ramon Muñoz and affirmed that he’ll remain in that military branch, despite the cancellation of the officer’s visa by the United States.
Muñoz joins an ever-growing list of Dominican government, military and police officials whose visa to travel to the United States have been “inexplicably” canceled.
Lajara said the senior officer has had an unblemished conduct during his 26 years in the military.
In that regard the United States Embassy Commercial attaché Roland Bullen, when asked on the topic, said only that the cancellation of the rear admiral’s visa is a matter between him and the U.S. Embassy.
The naval chief said an investigation by Naval intelligence found that Muñoz hasn’t been involved in any activity related to drug trafficking, money laundering, or organized crime.
Last February, the United States cancelled the visas of this and other generals, including current Metropolitan Transit Authority director Rafael Bencosme Candelier, and the Legal Adviser during Hipolito Mejia’s Presidency (2000-2004) Guido Gomez Mazara, based on its Immigration and Naturalization Law 212.
From: United States
There is a reason for everything and a reason will come out eventually.
From: Dominican Republic, Parque Colon statue of Anacaona
Jimbo you got that right ...these guys were scamming something or somebody.......smoke and fire
Written by: Gringo_1, 19 Aug 2009 4:04 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Maimon (Bonao)
This is shockingly shocking!
Written by: josean, 19 Aug 2009 4:18 PM
From: United States
Now, now everyone is innocent until proven guilty or until they send a little cash under the mesa!
From: Netherlands
Well it seem that there is a big difference in the percepcion of US officials and Dominican officials. Who are more trustfully? Mr President I think it's time for a cleanup, too many of your officials get their US visum revoked and there must be a good reason for it, you should investigate it but not like the investigation of the Santiago dam opening of 2 years ago. .
Written by: xwill7, 19 Aug 2009 5:15 PM
From: United States, Chicago
they know what happened at the Santiago dam
Written by: danny00, 19 Aug 2009 5:37 PM
From: United States
YES their one or more good reasons and you can bet your money on that.... THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PULL A VISA ON ANY ONE ... WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY WHERE HAVING A BAD DAY AND OK LETS SEE LETS PULL THIS GUYS VISA..... DOES NOT WORK THIS WAY.... my family, my friends, tens of thousands of GOOD DOMINICANS have visa's for many, many, many YEARS.... pull the visa..... THEY ARE IN touch with the DEA ANGETS..... this is for sure.... NAVY BOATS--- DRUGS.... come whats to think about this?
Written by: danny00, 19 Aug 2009 5:42 PM
From: United States
investigation by naval intelligence , which navy did the investigation the united states navy or the dominican navy?... give me a break what investigation?.... they looked into their own boss affairs?... lol what a joke in the island of "smoke and mirrors"
From: United States
Sounds related to drugs or some other type of crime. They should just put them on the watch list and when they arrive arrest them and charge them not pull the Visa to get their attention.
Written by: antonio1, 19 Aug 2009 7:10 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
It truly amazes me the double standard, coming from an administration who President has openly admitted using "blow" and "weed", and never heard him say he stopped using either.
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
A few items that might have gone overlooked on story:
1) US gov. might actually be scratching LF's back with this action to sanction a military official he just didn't have gumption to do.
2) The Quirino Paulino factor and whatever information he has provided which could implicate officials all the way to the presidency.
3) Us gov., with all of its faults, is infinitely more trustworthy than most other ones, especially the corruption-fraught DR gov. On this premise, I am fully inclined to side with the US.
From: United States
(II) a violation of (or a conspiracy or attempt to violate) any law or regulation of a State, the United States, or a foreign country relating to a controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)), is inadmissible.
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
Perception,
More details, please! Something doesn't jibe about the extraction you posted above relative to drug trafficking. If I read posting correctly, then it seems to state that you are free to bring drugs and controlled substances into US as you please and with impunity. Is that right?
What is source?
Josean, comments & rebuttal, please?
Written by: oupala07 
, 20 Aug 2009 6:32 AM
From: Canada
I find it humiliating and degrading for the small third world countries when members of their government or any other top officials have their visas cancelled by the United States. Besides, why should it be a big deal? Are the United States of America the only major country one can visit?
You will never hear such demeaning affront vectored toward any major European countries or China.
What is more degrading, the third world countries just take it on the chin without even protesting or retaliating. As far as I am concerned, I lived seven and a half years in the United States, and I haven't been particularly thrilled by the way of life. In most of the case, it has nothing different from a huge third world country where a tiny core of wealthy is surrounded by a huge majority of working class that can barely survive with wages equivalent to the minimum salary or sligthly above.
From: Dominican Republic, Boca de Chavon
Deliberately provocative headline that is suggesting that something is amiss when more than likely there is nothing at all
Written by: BASTA, 20 Aug 2009 7:22 AM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs
tens of thousands of GOOD DOMINICANS have visa's for many, many, many YEARS....= No such thing like a white Dominican.
Written by: pelaut, 20 Aug 2009 8:11 AM
From: United States
Is he a member of the Estado Mayor?
Is that enought?
From: Dominican Republic
What I get a kick out of is how they jump to defend themselves...ha ha ha....that reminds me; what ever happened to GG suing them. Do you remember that. He felt that by "unjustly" revoking his visa they had smeared his image and he was barking about suing them for a couple of days in the press and then the US Embassy issued the exact same statement to the press as the one above and suddenly.....ooops, Guido? Where did you go Guido?? Cancelled your trip to Orlando so soon???
From: Dominican Republic
Ricardo; either I did not understand the headline or I did not understand your comment.
Written by: DomVilla, 20 Aug 2009 12:28 PM
From: United States, Maryland
US lost a potential tourist, if they visit the USA is just for pleasure not to work.
From: Dominican Republic, Boca de Chavon
Maldito Gringo inexplicable means incapable of being explained or accounted for in this sense ,,which in the case of the Admiral is not true because both the Admiral and USA Embassy can explain it as can the other people who had their visas revoked .
The heading was deliberately suggesting that the revocations were incapable of being explained but that is not true ,The fact is that the USA Embassy has said it is not our business but solely between the Embassy and the people concerned .
From: United States
Guys , you are going to fast.
Since when you became experts in international affairs?
May be, he has refused to stage a coup against Leonel like they did in Honduras,and he is being punished.
Then what 's the heck ? he can still visit France,Spain,Canada,Germany.Russia,who konws even South Africa,Ghana,Egypt,Irack,Iran,Cuba.The Vatican,Italy.,Turkey, Israel .
Should I keep going ?
From: Dominican Republic
Ricardo; I understand your point now but I am afraid it is you that is interpreting it wrong. The headline puts the word inexplicably in quotes indicating sarcastically that inexplicable is the word that someone else used and in that way they are making the point that you are making.
Their using the word "inexplicably" and putting it in quotes was them being facetious.
Written by: Gringo_1, 20 Aug 2009 6:12 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Maimon (Bonao)
Read 212 (C)
Written by: Juango, 20 Aug 2009 6:17 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Yes Maldito. It is quite clear to most, just as you interpreted the headline. I can only chuckle, as I read many of these post.
From: Dominican Republic
Many good people do not recognize immediately sarcasm and even fewer find it funny. Mostly just assholes like me read everything cynically and enjoy it...
Written by: Grosero, 20 Aug 2009 10:13 PM
From: United States
OMG....Dominican Admiral joins growing list of “inexplicably” yanked U.S. visas
Throw em another bale of coke.....Bribes always work
Written by: THINK, 21 Aug 2009 10:38 PM
From: United States, Santo Domingo -- Mia --NY
This is so called >>>>>>>> COVERING YOUR EARS AND STEALING SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE <<<<<<<, , why the US cancel your visas not other persons visa?
Please, you think you covering your ears yet you can steal something and you will not hear.,,,, what a stupid mentality.....
Written by: oupala07 , 22 Aug 2009 1:54 AM
From: Canada
I am really appalled at the lack of pride you guys are demonstrated toward your country's most venerable institution, and I mean by that the armed forces. The way the United States is acting is like a colonial power that is punishing its subjects by banning them to enter the motherland.
What would have happened if it was the other way around? Can the Dominican Republic declare a high profile member of the United States government or its armed forces persona non grata?
Besides, wouldn't be less humiliating if the Yankees just declare the individual a persona non grata instead of the belittling visa cancelling, as if travelling into the US is like going after the El Dorado.
Why don't they humiliate Brazil, Russia, Great Britain, France, Australia, Japan and Canada the same way? The answer is quite obvious on this web site, just look at how you the Dominicans take on the chin and accept to be treated like a "Do as I told" little third world nation.
From: Dominican Republic
oupala;
Way off base, my friend. All the US does it is simply cancel the visa and advise that individua only. That is the way they do it for all countries that require a visa to enter the US. For countries that do not require a visa the stop the person a the boarder and tell them that they are no longer welcome in the United States and they do it ALL THE TIME to citizens of every country including Brazil, Russia, Great Britain, France, Australia, Japan, and Canada.
They do not announce those decisions publicly, they do not make a list, they do not tell the newspaper. They don't even tell family members and spouses of the individual they just contact the individual, ask him/her to present their passport and cancel the visa.
If it gets out to the press it is because the "victim" told someone or maybe the press itself.
From: Dominican Republic
I admire you for jumping to the defense of Dominicans but it is not DOMINICANS that are being slighted in this.
Most Dominicans do not get their visas revoked by the US authorities. Most Dominicans with visas visit the US regularly and many end up living there and being residents or even better citizens and contribute to the multicultural American spirit that makes both the US and the DR great.
This persons' shameless (in the true sense of the word) act and later fake indignation over the result of having his visa revoked is the one that truly insults Dominicans by calling himself a "citizen" but acting like they have no responsibility to the society except to themselves.
From: Dominican Republic
The proud Dominicans I know would like to see worse happen to this guy than just losing his visa.
Written by: oupala07 , 22 Aug 2009 11:39 AM
From: Canada
That's not true MalditoGringo,
What I am telling you is something I have been following since the cold war. The United States have never publicly revoked the visa of high profile citizens in the more powerful and first or second world states. Besides, why make it public if you can advise privately the person of his/her faith?
No my friend, I admire your effort to defend them, but the fact remains that it is a humiliating way to show the people living mostly in third world countries like yours and mine, who's the master.
And finally, I don't see how such treatment makes your country "great" as you say.
Written by: Juango, 22 Aug 2009 1:02 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Each and every nation has the right to issue a visitor/work/special visa to anyone they wish. So what is the problem? The US State Dept. canceled this person's visa for whatever reason, it really doesn't matter. And one more thing, who the hell cares?
Written by: oupala07 , 22 Aug 2009 1:15 PM
From: Canada
Juango,
Only people who feel smaller than the others won't care in such circumstances. If you want to find out who will care, just let the Dominican republic declare the secretary of State Hilary Clinton persona non grata and that it won't issue a visiting visa to her and you'll see if Leonel Fernandez will spend a month as the President of the Dominican Republic.
Your comment shows the state of belitleness of your mind. So, I don't expect you to understand the concept of personal pride, patriotism and kinship toward one's own citizens.
From: Dominican Republic
I'm sorry oupala; it is you who is wrong. You've been following this since the cold war....well, I've been doing it since the cold war.
Written by: oupala07 , 22 Aug 2009 1:59 PM
From: Canada
I guess I am wasting my time. So, it's time for me to get off the bus, see you later my friend.
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1) US gov. might actually be scratching LF's back with this action to sanction a military official he just didn't have gumption to do.
2) The Quirino Paulino factor and whatever information he has provided which could implicate officials all the way to the presidency.
3) Us gov., with all of its faults, is infinitely more trustworthy than most other ones, especially the corruption-fraught DR gov. On this premise, I am fully inclined to side with the US.
More details, please! Something doesn't jibe about the extraction you posted above relative to drug trafficking. If I read posting correctly, then it seems to state that you are free to bring drugs and controlled substances into US as you please and with impunity. Is that right?
What is source?
Josean, comments & rebuttal, please?
You will never hear such demeaning affront vectored toward any major European countries or China.
What is more degrading, the third world countries just take it on the chin without even protesting or retaliating. As far as I am concerned, I lived seven and a half years in the United States, and I haven't been particularly thrilled by the way of life. In most of the case, it has nothing different from a huge third world country where a tiny core of wealthy is surrounded by a huge majority of working class that can barely survive with wages equivalent to the minimum salary or sligthly above.
Is that enought?
The heading was deliberately suggesting that the revocations were incapable of being explained but that is not true ,The fact is that the USA Embassy has said it is not our business but solely between the Embassy and the people concerned .
Since when you became experts in international affairs?
May be, he has refused to stage a coup against Leonel like they did in Honduras,and he is being punished.
Then what 's the heck ? he can still visit France,Spain,Canada,Germany.Russia,who konws even South Africa,Ghana,Egypt,Irack,Iran,Cuba.The Vatican,Italy.,Turkey, Israel .
Should I keep going ?
Their using the word "inexplicably" and putting it in quotes was them being facetious.
Throw em another bale of coke.....Bribes always work
This is so called >>>>>>>> COVERING YOUR EARS AND STEALING SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE <<<<<<<, , why the US cancel your visas not other persons visa?
Please, you think you covering your ears yet you can steal something and you will not hear.,,,, what a stupid mentality.....
What would have happened if it was the other way around? Can the Dominican Republic declare a high profile member of the United States government or its armed forces persona non grata?
Besides, wouldn't be less humiliating if the Yankees just declare the individual a persona non grata instead of the belittling visa cancelling, as if travelling into the US is like going after the El Dorado.
Why don't they humiliate Brazil, Russia, Great Britain, France, Australia, Japan and Canada the same way? The answer is quite obvious on this web site, just look at how you the Dominicans take on the chin and accept to be treated like a "Do as I told" little third world nation.
Way off base, my friend. All the US does it is simply cancel the visa and advise that individua only. That is the way they do it for all countries that require a visa to enter the US. For countries that do not require a visa the stop the person a the boarder and tell them that they are no longer welcome in the United States and they do it ALL THE TIME to citizens of every country including Brazil, Russia, Great Britain, France, Australia, Japan, and Canada.
They do not announce those decisions publicly, they do not make a list, they do not tell the newspaper. They don't even tell family members and spouses of the individual they just contact the individual, ask him/her to present their passport and cancel the visa.
If it gets out to the press it is because the "victim" told someone or maybe the press itself.
Most Dominicans do not get their visas revoked by the US authorities. Most Dominicans with visas visit the US regularly and many end up living there and being residents or even better citizens and contribute to the multicultural American spirit that makes both the US and the DR great.
This persons' shameless (in the true sense of the word) act and later fake indignation over the result of having his visa revoked is the one that truly insults Dominicans by calling himself a "citizen" but acting like they have no responsibility to the society except to themselves.
What I am telling you is something I have been following since the cold war. The United States have never publicly revoked the visa of high profile citizens in the more powerful and first or second world states. Besides, why make it public if you can advise privately the person of his/her faith?
No my friend, I admire your effort to defend them, but the fact remains that it is a humiliating way to show the people living mostly in third world countries like yours and mine, who's the master.
And finally, I don't see how such treatment makes your country "great" as you say.
Only people who feel smaller than the others won't care in such circumstances. If you want to find out who will care, just let the Dominican republic declare the secretary of State Hilary Clinton persona non grata and that it won't issue a visiting visa to her and you'll see if Leonel Fernandez will spend a month as the President of the Dominican Republic.
Your comment shows the state of belitleness of your mind. So, I don't expect you to understand the concept of personal pride, patriotism and kinship toward one's own citizens.