SITUATION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (REPORT #275 - AS OF 7:00 AM EDT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00472A001400050025-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 20, 2006
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: June 13, 1965
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Rase 2007/03/05[-1CRBTP79T00472A'1400050025-2
OCI No. 1947/65
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
13 June 1965
Situation in the Dominican Republic
Report #275 - As of 7:00 am EDT
There has been no significant change in the
situation as loyalist forces continue to make
preventive arrests throughout the country in an
effort to discourage expected pro-rebel demonstra-
tions and violence in the interior this week.
The police commander in San Francisco de
Macoris stated yesterday, for instance, that
preventive arrests in his area between 9 and 12
June total 26 and that about ten are being detained
in nearby Salcedo. Over 35 have been arrested in
Moca and a number in Santiago.
25X1
State Dept. review completed
Approved For Releas 2AO01400050025-2
 Approved For RRliarase 2007/03/016-79T00472AIK1400050025-2
The police commander in San Juan de la Maguana,
the town in the southwestern part of the country where
there were rebel attacks on 2 and 10 June, is unable
to estimate the number of attackers who took part in
the recent foray. He described them simply as the
men who had previously fled to the hills and implied
that they had gone back there. He said that the
attackers had left a number of weapons behind them
after the most recent attack.
Today's "Parade of Democratic Rededication,"
which is being sponsored by the Imbert government,
is likely to be the biggest anti-Communist rally yet
staged by the loyalist forces. The government has
had nearly a week to prepare for it and is bringing
in many people from the countryside to participate.
25X1
Approved For Release 20 2A001400050025-2
 Approved For Rase 2007/03/OSCP79T004721400050025-2
Meanwhile, Cuban propaganda is contributing its
share to coverage of the APCJ demonstrations. A
dispatch of last night by the Castro regime's inter-
national news service reported on preparations for
the "popular demonstration" which is to herald the
14 June anniversary date. The Havana dispatch,
which is datelined Santo Domingo, also quotes from
a story in yesterday's issue of the rebel newspaper
Patria. The story charges that the United States
o=' ccupation troops are preparing serious provocations
to prevent the 14 June demonstrations throughout the
country." The story went on to claim that the US is
trying to involve Brazilian troops, without the
knowledge of their commanders, in a plan to use force
to break up the demonstrations.
Fabio Chestaro Mejia, a retired captain of the
Dominican Army who had been working with the rebels
until his defection on 7 June, has provided what
seems to be an authoritative account of conditions in
the rebel-held area of Santo Domingo during the past
six weeks. He reports that at':least 65 percent of
the members of the commando units guarding rebel
territory belong to the pro-Castro APCJ. With few
exceptions, he reports, all the commando units are
Communist-led.
Reporting continues to indicate tension and
deteriorating morale in rebel territory. The
Panamanian ambassador, for instance, was recently
roughed up and threatened by a commando group.
When the ambassador protested and said he would
personally complain to Caamano, his assaillants
urged him to go ahead and then they would give
Caamano the same treatment. The embassy reports
that there is an increasing number of stories of
rebel personnel, and even of relatively high rebel
Approved For Release 2 001400050025-2
 Approved For Release 2007/03/05E?REThP79T00472Af01400050025-2
Meanwhile, Cuban propaganda is contributing its
share to coverage of the APCJ demonstrations. A
dispatch of last night by the Castro regime's inter-
national news service reported on preparations for
the "popular demonstration" which is to herald the
14 June anniversary date. The Havana dispatch,
which is datelined Santo Domingo, also quotes from
a story in yesterday's issue of the rebel newspaper
Patria. The story charges that the United States
'occupation troops are preparing serious provocations
to prevent the 14 June demonstrations throughout the
country." The story went on to claim that the US is
trying to involve Brazilian troops, without the
knowledge of their commanders, in a plan to use force
to break up the demonstrations.
Fabio Chestaro Mejia, a retired captain of the
Dominican Army who had been working with the rebels
until his defection on 7 June, has provided what
seems to be an authoritative account of conditions in
the rebel-held area of Santo Domingo during the past
six weeks. He reports that at'..least 65 percent of
the members of the commando units guarding
territory belong to the pro-Castro APCJ. With few
exceptions, he reports, all the commando units are
Communist-led.
Reporting continues to indicate tension and
deteriorating morale in rebel territory. The
Panamanian ambassador, for instance, was recently
roughed up and threatened by a commando group.
When the ambassador protested and said he would
personally complain to Caamano, his assaillants
urged him to go ahead and then they would give
Caamano the same treatment. The embassy reports
that there is an increasing number of stories of
rebel personnel, and even of relatively high rebel
Approved For Release 20
 Approved For RAkease 2007/03/06E?R-S-OP79T00472A'601400050025-2
officials, making soundings as to asylum in for-
eign embassies.
Approved For Release 200WOSM Q' 11 001400050025-2