The angry protesters outside the Haiti National Palace.
Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernandez revealed last night that in his 2005 visit to Haiti his motorcade had to speed away through the rear of the National Palace while anti-Dominican protests raged outside and gunmen poised for ambush hid behind vehicles firing machine guns and torched a vehicle to halt his return to Port-au-Prince’s airport.
He also revealed that he ordered his security detail not to return fire, “as the risk of a situation out of control and an ensuing massacre was going to spark a regrettable tragedy between the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti.”
Fernandez said he and his motorcade were able leave the scene when United Nations peacekeeping troops (Minustah) escorted them, machine guns in hand, until reaching safety.
Fernandez spoke in a ceremony after he received the United Nations System recognition of the Dominican Government, of civil society and business leaders for solidarity and humanitarian aid after the tragedy of the January 12 quake.
“When we were leaving, armed individuals, hidden behind vehicles, shot with machine guns and burned a vehicle, set afire to one that was exactly in the middle of the street so that the motorcade couldn’t pass and to be attacked by a group of armed people who were there at that instant. We were able to leave the critical moment because the group of Minustah was placed in front of the presidential caravan, machine guns in hand and clearing the entire route for us to leave.”
“I though to myself at the moment to ask our heads of security to be careful with our helicopters, to not let themselves be provoked, because if they landed and fired there may have been a massacre,” he said, adding that “thanks to God it dissipated and no one knew what had really occurred there,” he said.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
mmm, not a memory that i would have thought was appropriate to share at an official occasion ..that is better for the memoirs later in life . How strange that LF should choose now to recall this !!
I hope he also referred to the humanitarian efforts made by many individual Dominicans , because this award is to the DR and not solely to LF
Written by: pelaut, 20 Aug 2010 8:32 AM
From: United States
May indicate the US/UN push to "unify" the island has heated up.
This could be a mild shot across their bow to show how easily — and dangerously — emotions can get inflamed.
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
A spark can lead to more tragedy at any time .....cooler heads must prevail
Written by: Cacique, 20 Aug 2010 9:25 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Better Fernandez than Hipoluto Mejia, or many Haiti brothers dead, make both tribes shed blood for many moons...Peace...
From: United States, Brooklyn
Fernandez should know better!
Written by: generoso, 20 Aug 2010 9:47 AM
From: United States, Quisqueya
I remember the event, and how there was an attempt to provoke a DR-Haiti confrontation and possible war, by paid agitators and a lynch mob sympathetic to Aristide.
The president and Dominican secret service protecting him had a close call, and they kept their cool
and serenity, on what it could have been a serious and regrettable international incident.
There was brief exchange of gunfire, that quieted the aggressors and many rocks were thrown at the Fernandez caravan, some hitting and destroying car windows.
Written by: generoso, 20 Aug 2010 9:54 AM
From: United States, Quisqueya
Regarding the term "exchange of gunfire", there was certainly a response by the Dominican members of the presidential guard, which was stopped by an order from president Fernandez, after the fact.
Had our brave military not responded in kind and with extreme prejudice, maybe the Haitians would have thought that their attempt to kill or intimate our president, could have been successful instead of making them think twice about carrying on.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
It's regrettable, but happens all the time.
Remember the G6,7,8 security costs, just to prevent stone throwing at cars filled by civil servants, while the leaders are flown to the meeting sites.
Crazy people are everywhere.
From: United States
6 years after the fact. Ataboy Leonel what a great leader you are.
You should be put in charge of Haiti and then use their money to galavant all over the world.
Maybe someday the DR will get a president that works for the people.
Written by: juanb, 20 Aug 2010 11:09 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Strange point in time to retell this story.
Although......Maybe in his desperate quest for the Nobel Piece (sic)Prize he feels that almost being killed in Haiti then, and coming to their aid, now, it makes him look more worthy.
It would be better if he paid some attention here.
Written by: bankai, 20 Aug 2010 11:21 AM
From: United States, Long Island
all this talk about LF why dont u talk about your own dam short comings like how you keep destroying the island, poluting it further and trying a so called peaceful invasion. You should be exterminated.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
and who is u in your aggressive posting bankai
Written by: juanb, 20 Aug 2010 11:38 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Who cares?
Written by: BASTA, 20 Aug 2010 11:48 AM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs
I do not
From: United States, Chicago, IL
"I remember the event, and how there was an attempt to provoke a DR-Haiti confrontation and possible war, by paid agitators and a lynch mob sympathetic to Aristide." -Generoso
I didn't know about this incident, but as I read about it this was my first thought. Any industrialst, druglord, politician or political hopeful can throw a few dollars around to project the impression of a popular opinion by paying some thugs to do stuff like this. My cousins tell a lot of that skinny, ugly grafitti (Aba "insert name") in the PAP is from people who are paid by others with an agenda. I dont think he or any other politician is saint but I have to say, this story is really a testament to Leonel's intelligence, capacity, and patience. I am very impressed.
From: United States, Chicago, IL
"I remember the event, and how there was an attempt to provoke a DR-Haiti confrontation and possible war, by paid agitators and a lynch mob sympathetic to Aristide."
I didn't know about this incident, but as I read about it this was my first thought. Any industrialst, druglord, politician or political hopeful can throw a few dollars around to project an impression of a popular opinion by paying some thugs to do stuff like this. My cousins tell me a lot of that skinny, ugly grafitti (Aba "insert name or cause you want to go down") in the PAP is from people who are paid by others with a specific agenda. I dont think he or any other politician is saint but I have to say, this story is really a testament to Leonel's intelligence, capacity, and patience. I am very impressed and grateful.
From: United States, words of wisdom from the nutcracker
mr oppurtunist strikes again he never seen to amaze me , this man is really coward at heart he looks for anything to make him look like a hero of the people . he said he did not want his security people to return fired ? why not you jerk are you holier then the pope. I would not be suprised if this story is fabricated.
Written by: Trujillo, 20 Aug 2010 12:23 PM
From: Dominican Republic
I remember it as if it happened yesterday.
From: Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Uhm wait up you just said this happened in 2005 and you said nothing then right... Why you decided to tell this after an earthquake hit em 7 months ago and you pledged a whole bunch of money and stuff? Intresting.... The same thing kinda happened to my grandpa and uncle when they went to Haiti from Florida. You were aware that the year of 2005 alot of kidnappings and stuff like that was happening right? Anyways god bless yall.
Written by: Sigma, 20 Aug 2010 12:40 PM
From: United States, Dom Rep/Haiti
I was working in Haiti at this time and there were no "ambush or machine guns fired at the convoy".
There was a pro Aristid protest that turned bad. thats all.
And yes the Dom Rep presidential guard did respond and used their weapons to clear out.
Sigma
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
Yea...... Yea.....Brush your hair...., just like Hillary dodging bullets in IRAQ.
Does this mean that he is going to now remember the time his pilot was caught with two Kilos of cocain in is own private plane and he is going to tell us how the monies for the electric bill that was borrowed,vanished without paying the bill........wait!!!!,....I fogot, we are dealing with some one with selective memory.
Pssss......Leo!!!! Don't stand to close to the window.
From: Dominican Republic, San Carlos, barrio de matatanes, aqui no invente
This is old news, besides anyone who enters haiti have to "escape" to find a way out.
From: United States
Generoso- you are lying, u do not remember the event because was never made public until now. You want everyone to think you are some important figure in Dominican government or a elite with so many connections. But you are just a big liar and another loser behind a computer terminal searching for a life. Also, no windows were broken in Leonel's Caravan. why? Because the Dominican President's Caravan is bullet proof, Bomb proof, it would take several rocket launchers to bring such a vehicle down. I own stock in the company that sold (4) of these vehicles to the Dominican Republic several years back. So Leonel was never in no real danger, which is why no shots were fired. If he thought he would have been, the trip would not have been made.
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I hope he also referred to the humanitarian efforts made by many individual Dominicans , because this award is to the DR and not solely to LF
This could be a mild shot across their bow to show how easily — and dangerously — emotions can get inflamed.
Fernandez should know better!
I remember the event, and how there was an attempt to provoke a DR-Haiti confrontation and possible war, by paid agitators and a lynch mob sympathetic to Aristide.
The president and Dominican secret service protecting him had a close call, and they kept their cool
and serenity, on what it could have been a serious and regrettable international incident.
There was brief exchange of gunfire, that quieted the aggressors and many rocks were thrown at the Fernandez caravan, some hitting and destroying car windows.
Regarding the term "exchange of gunfire", there was certainly a response by the Dominican members of the presidential guard, which was stopped by an order from president Fernandez, after the fact.
Had our brave military not responded in kind and with extreme prejudice, maybe the Haitians would have thought that their attempt to kill or intimate our president, could have been successful instead of making them think twice about carrying on.
Remember the G6,7,8 security costs, just to prevent stone throwing at cars filled by civil servants, while the leaders are flown to the meeting sites.
Crazy people are everywhere.
You should be put in charge of Haiti and then use their money to galavant all over the world.
Maybe someday the DR will get a president that works for the people.
Although......Maybe in his desperate quest for the Nobel Piece (sic)Prize he feels that almost being killed in Haiti then, and coming to their aid, now, it makes him look more worthy.
It would be better if he paid some attention here.
I didn't know about this incident, but as I read about it this was my first thought. Any industrialst, druglord, politician or political hopeful can throw a few dollars around to project the impression of a popular opinion by paying some thugs to do stuff like this. My cousins tell a lot of that skinny, ugly grafitti (Aba "insert name") in the PAP is from people who are paid by others with an agenda. I dont think he or any other politician is saint but I have to say, this story is really a testament to Leonel's intelligence, capacity, and patience. I am very impressed.
I didn't know about this incident, but as I read about it this was my first thought. Any industrialst, druglord, politician or political hopeful can throw a few dollars around to project an impression of a popular opinion by paying some thugs to do stuff like this. My cousins tell me a lot of that skinny, ugly grafitti (Aba "insert name or cause you want to go down") in the PAP is from people who are paid by others with a specific agenda. I dont think he or any other politician is saint but I have to say, this story is really a testament to Leonel's intelligence, capacity, and patience. I am very impressed and grateful.
There was a pro Aristid protest that turned bad. thats all.
And yes the Dom Rep presidential guard did respond and used their weapons to clear out.
Sigma
Does this mean that he is going to now remember the time his pilot was caught with two Kilos of cocain in is own private plane and he is going to tell us how the monies for the electric bill that was borrowed,vanished without paying the bill........wait!!!!,....I fogot, we are dealing with some one with selective memory.
Pssss......Leo!!!! Don't stand to close to the window.
This is old news, besides anyone who enters haiti have to "escape" to find a way out.