The shutdown shuts out passengers. Photo elnuevodiario.com.do
SANTO DOMINGO. - A throng of bus owners grouped in CONATRA Thursday morning assaulted newspaper Diario Libre reporter Adonis Diaz and the photographer Justo Feliz, while they covered the transport walkout that snarled traffic toward the south region.
The head of CONATRA Antonio Marte is called one of the country’s “owners” for the virtual impunity with which they stage frequent violent strikes nationwide, a group that also includes the heads of the unions Fenatrano, the deputy Juan Hubieres, of the CNTU, Ramon Perez Figuereo, and Blas Peralta, of the truckers Fenatrado.
Armed with knives called "liver cutters" machetes, bats and stones the drivers furiously rushed and surrounded the reporters who managed to flee and come out alive thanks to the quick response by Police agents.
The photographer and the reporter resulted with cuts and bruises in several parts of their body, but the aggressors broke some of the camera equipment.
The CONATRA and FENATRANO members halted traffic between the South region and the Capital over a dispute to control the profitable routes, a conflict that left several buses with shattered windshields.
CONATRA’s drivers allege that FENATRANO buses mount passengers from their routes, and blocked the Santo Domingo- San Cristóbal highway in protest.
Written by: Atabey, 7 Oct 2010 12:50 PM
From: United States, NYC
Thugs. A few well placed blows and prison terms may "instruct" them to begin the process toward modernity. For the ones that resist, a little "R&R" may help that process along.
From: United States
They are no different than the judge that had the chinese arrested for serving chicken pieces that were to small.
You cannot have it one way only. I beleive the truckers rights are being violated by Leonel and his cronies and that the long term goal of Leonel is to break that union so that he "Leonel and the PLD" have ultimate power in the DR.
Written by: Atabey, 7 Oct 2010 1:48 PM
From: United States, NYC
Jim,
These truckers do great harm to DR's future. They need to be put in their place for the sake of all Dominicans. Be it the LF Administration or another future one, it will have to stand firm and make them understand who's boss. Like Truman did to the miners in the early 1950s. Unless the central government establishes its predominance chaos and disruption for petty issues,largely driven by wages and benefit issues should not hamper the nation's future. Let's look at the Larger picture here. It's not about scoring points on an administration that has not lived up to the high expectations many of us had when they started.
From: United States, words of wisdom from the nutcracker
I agree your not gonna get what you want by behaving like animals , this union is run by idiots who think actiling like savages will get you results ? I understand there frustration but acting like apes wont get your raises .
From: United States
Terrorists.
LF you are a weakling.
Written by: riosm, 7 Oct 2010 3:15 PM
From: United States
Arm the reporters next time....
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
There is not even a Transport ministry in this country.
The only time I remember a politician do to something was Melanio Paredes when he solved the conflict with an importer who wanted to use his own transportation from the port to his facilities.
The importer won, and Melanio was transferred to education.
Probably still shaking in is pants.
From: United States
These truckers do great harm to DR's future.
They are standing up against Leonel and the PLD you should support their confrontaion.
Everybody else just talks about the corruption. At least they are standing up for their rights.
Written by: Atabey, 7 Oct 2010 7:13 PM
From: United States, NYC
"for the virtual impunity with which they stage frequent violent strikes nationwide,"
"Armed with knives called "liver cutters" machetes, bats and stones the drivers furiously rushed and surrounded the reporters who managed to flee and come out alive thanks to the quick response by Police agents."
Just a bunch of boy scouts having some fun. LOL
These goons and thugs need one thing: a shift kick in the behind and get back to work. Their leaders arrested and disarmed. Their "conversation" with the reporters should alert you to their true nature. Get real.
Written by: riosm, 7 Oct 2010 8:38 PM
From: United States
Stones, sticks, machetes, knifes, liver cutters and bats ? some strike.....what ever happened to gaining the publics support with "we need higher pay to feed our families" ? sounds like U.S unions with forget the ask......DEMAND WITH VIOLENCE.
In the end the consumers gets it in the back side.
Written by: tmnyc, 7 Oct 2010 9:06 PM
From: American Samoa
Atabey, you are right about Truman- "US unions that continued to press beyond the general labor settlements established in the auto and steel industries after World War II found themselves facing a powerful adversary—the federal government. In 1946, both coal miners and railroad workers staged nationwide strikes. President Truman decided that the unions had gone too far, and after the railroad workers rejected a settlement, he seized control of the railroads. Despite the government takeover, the workers continued with their strike plans. As a result, Truman issued an ultimatum declaring that the gov't would operate the railroads and use the Army as strikebreakers. When the deadline passed, Truman went before Congress to seek the power to deny seniority rights to strikers and to draft strikers into the Armed Forces. Just as Truman reached the climax of his speech, he received a note saying that the strike was “settled on the terms proposed by the President.”
From: United States
So go ahead and continue to support Leonel and his legal goons.
But don't cry about corruption because you are knee deep in it.
Written by: Atabey, 8 Oct 2010 7:40 AM
From: United States, NYC
Again, Jim, it's not about scoring points with the current administration; any competent national Administration has to come down hard on these goons. You use non-violence and peaceful demonstrations to elicit public support for your cause, not threaten people with violence, "liver-cutters" and other deadly acts. For too long these guys have gotten away with this impunity, time for the National Government to show them who's boss. And DR isn't the only place this takes place, it's part of practically all developing nations, and as the case in the US shows, a part of a developed nation's labor conflict history. We just happen to have weaker institutional strengths and cohesion then many nations. Hopefully, but I doubt it, reasonable heads can meet and decide on a peaceful resolution.
From: United States, New York City
One thing is to be unionized, and another is to be part of a gang. The way it sounds to me, this guys are a gang that should be arrested, and when they are, they should be thrown in jail for a long time. They are attacking reporters because they don’t want the country to see that they operate like thugs. That's what they are!
http://www.HogsExposed.comWritten by: riosm, 8 Oct 2010 12:27 PM
From: United States
MrKdPhase,
Thank you....well put.
And to think the union members attacked the reporters, they are the ones who could bring the publics attencion on the cause by writing a heart, warm felt story about the need for higher pay to help feed their families, sounds like....."BITTING THE HAND THAT COULD FEED" to me.
I wonder are the reporters unionized ?
From: Canada
Every person that held a weapon during the protest must have their driver licence revoked for life and 2 years in prison and fined proportionately to the cost of interrupting local trade and police services. ... completely unacceptable. ...
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You cannot have it one way only. I beleive the truckers rights are being violated by Leonel and his cronies and that the long term goal of Leonel is to break that union so that he "Leonel and the PLD" have ultimate power in the DR.
These truckers do great harm to DR's future. They need to be put in their place for the sake of all Dominicans. Be it the LF Administration or another future one, it will have to stand firm and make them understand who's boss. Like Truman did to the miners in the early 1950s. Unless the central government establishes its predominance chaos and disruption for petty issues,largely driven by wages and benefit issues should not hamper the nation's future. Let's look at the Larger picture here. It's not about scoring points on an administration that has not lived up to the high expectations many of us had when they started.
Terrorists.
LF you are a weakling.
The only time I remember a politician do to something was Melanio Paredes when he solved the conflict with an importer who wanted to use his own transportation from the port to his facilities.
The importer won, and Melanio was transferred to education.
Probably still shaking in is pants.
They are standing up against Leonel and the PLD you should support their confrontaion.
Everybody else just talks about the corruption. At least they are standing up for their rights.
"Armed with knives called "liver cutters" machetes, bats and stones the drivers furiously rushed and surrounded the reporters who managed to flee and come out alive thanks to the quick response by Police agents."
Just a bunch of boy scouts having some fun. LOL
These goons and thugs need one thing: a shift kick in the behind and get back to work. Their leaders arrested and disarmed. Their "conversation" with the reporters should alert you to their true nature. Get real.
In the end the consumers gets it in the back side.
But don't cry about corruption because you are knee deep in it.
http://www.HogsExposed.com
Thank you....well put.
And to think the union members attacked the reporters, they are the ones who could bring the publics attencion on the cause by writing a heart, warm felt story about the need for higher pay to help feed their families, sounds like....."BITTING THE HAND THAT COULD FEED" to me.
I wonder are the reporters unionized ?