Four dead, Haitians’ shanties torched in Dominican Republic

Four dead, Haitians’ shanties torched in Dominican Republic (Update)

SANTIAGO.- A shantytown of Haitians near the city Guayubín (northwest) was burned yesterday by a throng of Dominicans in retaliation for the death of a farmer allegedly at the hands of an immigrant from the neighboring country.

Dominican Army Chief of staff Joaquin Virgilio Perez said Thursday Bolivar Nova (Bobotón), of the town manager of the El Cerro village of the community Guayubín, Montecristi province, for the aggressions against Haitian nationals and the torching of the shanties where they resided. (Source listin.com.do)

According to military sources, the crowd decided to torch the barrio El Cerro, in the sector Juan Gomez, because the Haitian said to be the farmer’s murderer hid in that place since Tuesday.

In the fire 30 houses were reduced to ashes and others were damaged, and their occupants were forced to flee from fear of being lynched by the Dominicans.

During the immigrants’ rush to return to the neighboring country, a Haitian woman fractured her right leg and was taken to the hospital at Guayubín.
On Monday, similar incidents in the southwest town Neyba erupted after another Haitian allegedly stabbed the Dominican moto-taxi driver Julio César Díaz Pérez to steal his motorbike, resulting in the death of two Haitians in reprisals.

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Dominican, Haiti Senate leaders meet, condemn lynchings

SANTO DOMINGO. - Dominican and Haitian Senate leaders today energetically condemned the criminal aggressions against the Haitian community in the country, in the wake of the lynchings in the towns Neyba and Guayubin, near the border, where two Dominicans and two Haitians were killed in separate incidents.

Reinaldo Pared said the actions carried out by Dominicans are “barbaric” and isolated and called for understanding. " We condemn these actions that don’t deserve the support of those with a smidgeon of reason, and are barbaric and criminal acts by people who taking advantage of an isolated occurrence, to rob the properties of these Haitian citizens who live in our country."

Haiti Senate president Kelly Bastien said the violence which his compatriots have been the victim of is unacceptable, since they attempt against human dignity.

He said the Dominican government must take the necessary measures so they aren’t repeated. “That’s why we want to express our firm will to continue working to improve the respect for fundamental rights in both countries and of the citizens of both countries."

Speaking in Creole Bastien called on his fellow citizens who live in Dominican Republic to stay calm and avoid violence.

Haiti ambassador Fritz Cinéas also participated in the meeting and asked punishment for the people responsible for the violence actions of the last few days in the section El Grajo, Bahoruco province (southwest) and Guayubín, Montecristi province (northwest).