WEEKLY POLITICAL REVIEW NO. 16 (APRIL 16-22, 1971)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000300240004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: April 24, 1971
• Content Type: CABLE

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,April 24, 1971
Weekly Political Review No. 16 (April. 16-22,1971)
1. Introduction
2. 6th Anniversary of 1965 Revolution
3. Dominican Reaction to Duvalier's Death
4. Alleged Rightist Terror Group Operating in Santo
Domingo
5. Criticism of New Broadcasting Decree
Temporary Solution to UCMM Crisi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
erritorial Sea Limit Suggested
Other Ievelopments
1. Introduction.
Duvalier's death dominated the news of the week. In
general, Pominicans have taken the news calmly. Although
the military and other officials are concerned about the
possible course of developments in Haiti, they are not
alarmed about the immediate future. The issue of a
higher sugar quota in the US preferential market contin-
ued to receive wide coverage in the press. In addition
to the Dominican representatives who will testify in open
FORM
3-70 DS-323
CONFIDENTIAL

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hearings in Washington on April 26, other groups here who have
expressed a direct interest in making their views known include
the National Development Commission, the sugar workers' trade
union federation FENSA, various colono organizations, the
American Chamber of Commerce in Santo Domingo, and-a group of
three MIDA Deputies who plan to attend the open hearings on an
unofficial basis. On the political side, the issue of police
"repression" was aired again When it became known that groups
of an organization Called the "Anti-Communist Reformist Demo-
cratic Youth" had been established by the National Police sup-
posedly for the purpose of eliminating selected extreme leftists.
Although the period April 24-May 1 has been termed the "Week of
Struggle" by various leftist student and other groups, pros-
pects look good for a relatively quiet anniversary of the 1965
revolution. (LIMITED OFFICIAL USE)
2. 6th Anniversary of 1965 Revolution
With the approaching anniversary of the 1965 revolution (April
24) and,Labor.Day?on-MaT patrols in Santo gomingo
have been visibly?ln-creased.... The Partici?. Revo1ucionarto Domini-
can? (PRD) announced a series of programs scheduled for its
offices in various parts of the city on April 24, to commemo-
rate the "glorious revolution of 1965." At the same time the
PRD ordered its members not to take part in any activities not
authorized by the party. The "anarchistic political policy" of
some communist groups precludes PRD cooperation with them, the
PRD announcement said. In Santiago three students reportedly
were wounded by gun fire during clashes with a mixed security
patrol which followed demonstrations commemorating the anniver-
sary. (UNCLASSIFIED)
Comment: As in years past, there will undoubtedly be demonstra-
tions, micro-meetings, etc., but we anticipate no mass demon-
strations or other major problems. (LIMITED OFFICIAL USE)
3. Dominican Reaction to Duvalier's Death
The news of the doath of Haitian dictator Francois Duvalier and
speculation about the immediate political future of that neigh-
boring country dominated the front pages of the local press at
week's end. Although the First Brigade and Dominican Army
units along the border were placed on alert status, no troops
CONFIDENTIAL
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have been deployed to the border area from their normal loca-
tions. The Navy is patrolling the northern and southern
coastal waters, and the Air Force is conducting air patrols
along the border. MAAG and DAO contacts with officers of all
three military services indicate that the Armed Forces are
calm. (CONFIDENTIAL'
In a public statement, PRD President Juan Bosch asserted that
Duvalier's death would not provoke an immediate uprising
although he predicted "an environment of international intrigue
and national unrest" in Haiti. Other political figures with
whom we have spoken have not expressed concern about the imme-
diate future in Haiti. Carlos SANCHEZ y SANCHEZ, the President
of the Dominican Frontiers Council, predicted an exodus of
Haitians across the border, an opinion contradicted by the
Haitian Ambassador Clement VINCENT. The Secretary General of
the Association of Haitian Newsmen in Exile said that many high
officials of the former regime are preparing to take refuge in
the D.R. (UNCLASSIFIED)
4. Alleged Rightist Terror Group Operating in Santo Domingo.
Reports that an organized band of rightist terrorists calling
itself the Juventud Democratica Reformista Anti-Communista is
operating in Santo Domingo received considerable coverage in
the press -t-his-Ateek- _Lefttstinationalist El Nacional -charged
that the?ter-roxist"group is linke.a.to.th.q.National.P.Plice and
published photos of alleged members of the band lounging in the
parking lot of the Police Palace. Other sources also emphasized
the association with the Police, claiming that the group uses
police-owned vehicles, that members of the band appear daily at
the Police Palace to receive instructions, and that members have
illegally detained citizens who are later formally arrested by
the police. The band has been accused of killings, assaults,
and robberies that have occurred in the northern barrios of
Santo Domingo. Leaders of the political opposition, ranging
from the PRD to PQD, have publicly denounced the band and the
PRSC has accused it of persecuting anti-government young people
in general and one of its party leaders in particular.
olhen the furor over the alleged link of the terrorist groups to
the National Police first broke, Police Chief Major General
Enrique PEREZ y PEREZ issued a bland statement commenting that
all citizens had the right to visit the Police Palace and
denouncing the terrorist activities of the MPD. Secretary of
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Interior and Police General Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier, how-
ever, said it was "inconceivable" that the National Police
could be associated with a band of young delinquents. On
April 20, six young people (ages 15-21), claiming to be members
of the group, sought asylum in the Mexican Embassy. They
alleged that the police were recruiting, arming, instructing,
and paying barrio youths to participate in a "war against
communism." At mid-week Perez y -Perez strongly denied police
association with the band, and accused leftist political groups
of sending the six to request asylum in order to discredit the
police and the GODR. At his weekly news conference, President
Balaguer said that the existence of armed terrorist bands could
not be tolerated and that the National Police should take
action against ?any and all such groups. (UNCLASSIFIED)
Comment: The issue of armed terrorist groups linked to the
National Police is a new and potentially dangerous factor in
the tension caused by an apparent recent increase in officially-
inspired violence. It is widely believed that the police are
"shooting first_and asking. questions laterP-in-a-campaign
against criminal and extreme leftist elements in the barrios 25X1
of Santo Domingo. Most Embassy contacts claim knowledge that
elements of the police are in fact connected with the so-called
Juventud Democratica Reformista Anti-Communista
The line between a "criminal" 25X1
and a "leftist sul)versive" is often a thin one in the D.R. and
if the present canpaign against "criminals" should be expanded
to include "subye:sive opposition," significant political
repercussions might develop. (CONFIDENTIAL)
5. Criticism of New Broadcasting Decree.
A decree signed by President Balaguer in late March (apparently
drafted by the National Commission of Public Spectacles and
Radiophony) establishing new regulations for the broadcasting
industry has caused concern on the part of newsmen, radio
station owners and opposition political leaders. The Dominican
Association of Radio Stations (ADORA) has formally protested 26
sections of the decree. One article which states that "no
announcer will be able to transmit alarming news items concern-
ing fires, cyclones, floods, etc. tinless the news item has been
approved and duly authorized by the competent authority" has
been singled Out by the Association as dangerous and unconsti-
tutional. ADORA President Jose BREA Pefia expressed particular
concern about the word "etcetera" and said it was not clear who
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would decide which news items were "alarming." PRSC President
Alfonso MORENO Martinez charged that the new regulation is
designed to "silence and frighten" news broadcasters.
Questioned about the furor at his mid-week news conference,
President Balaguer promised to "study and take into considera-
tion" the various objections to the decree, adding that the
government had no intention of limiting "free expression." The
President has in the past (most recently in his speech to the
Inter-American Press Society last month) expressed concern over
the possible use of radio to air "subversive propaganda."
(LIMITED OFFICIAL USE)
6. Temporary Solution to UCMM Crisis in Sight
After a week of meetings and negotiations, important faculty and
student elements at Santiago's Catholic University of Madre E
Maestra have apparently given their qualified endorsement to a
plan, emanating from Rector Agripino NUNEZ' office, which
envisages the resumption of classes on-a gradual basis beginning
with students who are scheduled to graduate this year. During
the week Rector Nunez swore in a number of new university offi-
cials to replace those who had resigned earlier in protest
against expulsion of six professors. Meeting on April 20, 69
professors of 80 attending and representing the Assembly of
Professors, reportedly voted against the establishment ,of "party
on-campus-.--Despite?tacit-endorsement_by_most profes-
sors and students (who are interested in gaining credit for the
semester), the so-called Unitary Committee, which has served as
the spokesman for student demands, criticized the Rector's plan
and those who have endorsed it "out of self-interest." (UNCLASSIFIED)
Comment: Notwithstanding the "Unitary Committee," the muddled
political-administrative crisis at UCMM appears to be moving
toward a temporary solution which will permit the resumption of
classes at least for students in their final year and perhaps
for the entire student body. Whatever develops, however, the
underlying problens at UCMM (i.e., the degree of student parti-
cipation in administrative decisions, existence of student organ-
izations -- particularly political -- on campus, and student-
faculty resentment toward Rector Nuflez) will remain and could
easily lead to renewed conflict in the future. (LIMITED OFFICIAL
USE)
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7. Sixty-Mile Territorial Sea Limit Suggested.
At a meeting of the National Development Commission (CND) this
week, Carlos SANCHEZ y SANCHEZ, President of the Dominican
Consejo Nacional de Fronteras, expressed the opinion that the
D.R. should extend its territorial waters to a limit of 60 miles
(the present limit is six miles). The CND is studying proposals
to prevent contamination of Dominican beaches and had been
thought to favor extending the limit to 12 miles. Sanchez y
Sanchez, however, advocated an extension that would prevent
pollution of the beaches and be sufficient to "protect marine
life." A sixty-mile territorial limit would include both the
Silver and.Navidad Banks, believed to be of potential importance
to a revitalized Dominican fishing industry. (SD A-200, July,
1970). (UNCLASSIFIED)
8. Other Developments
In other developments this week a) it was announced that the
visit of Colombian Foreign Minister Alfredo VAZQUEZ Carrizosa
originally scheduled for April 24 has been postponed until
April 27; b) it was announced that the CIAP plenary session
scheduled to open in Santo Domingo on May 3 has been postponed
until May 31; and c) by week's end the National Police had
knocked down most of the cardboard shacks which had been put
up by a group of homeless persons in front of the Hotel
Embajador. (UNCLASSIFIED)
It is reported that this invasion of private property was
inspired by the government in order to nudge the Hotel's admin-
istration in the direction of landscaping and generally cleaning
up the large barrel areas in front of and to the west of the
hotel. (CONFIDENTIAL)
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Contributors:JCHaair:LRFleischer:RBHoward:LPTaylor
CONFIDENTIAL
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