Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03SANTODOMINGO5392
2003-10-02 21:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

PROTESTS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DRIVEN BY ECONOMIC

Tags:  DR PGOV SOCI ECON PINS 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 005392 

SIPDIS

STATE PASS AID; NSC FOR SHANNON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2013
TAGS: DR PGOV SOCI ECON PINS
SUBJECT: PROTESTS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DRIVEN BY ECONOMIC
DISCONTENT


Classified By: Charge Lisa Kubiske for reasons 1.5 b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 005392

SIPDIS

STATE PASS AID; NSC FOR SHANNON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2013
TAGS: DR PGOV SOCI ECON PINS
SUBJECT: PROTESTS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DRIVEN BY ECONOMIC
DISCONTENT


Classified By: Charge Lisa Kubiske for reasons 1.5 b and d.


1. (C) Scattered demonstrations disrupted some peripheral
neighborhoods in Santo Domingo and a few interior towns in
the Dominican Republic September 29-30, temporarily shutting
down businesses and a major highway and leaving one person
dead, a dozen including several policemen injured, and dozens
under arrest. The disorders were triggered by sudden
widespread electrical power outages which hit the capital
September 27, in connection with the renationalization of two
major electrical distribution companies October 1 (septel).
The protests were encouraged by groups of community activists
who have engaged in such activities in the past. It is also
likely that elements of opposition political parties, as in
past outbreaks of unrest, paid the protesters who threw rocks
at vehicles and blocked roads with burning tires and rubbish.
There have also been shooting incidents.


2. (C) Protests had occurred sporadically in recent weeks,
especially in the north of the country, which was hit earlier
and harder by the power outages. Underlying the protests is
rising economic discontent. Specific irritants commonly
cited by the GODR's critics include:

-- the spread of the power outages, which have revived
unpleasant memories of severe electric power shortages over
the years;

-- the declining value of the Dominican peso, which has
driven consumer inflation toward 35 percent, annualized; and

-- Adverse reaction to the government's proposed pay raise
for public employees of only 9.5 percent.


3. (C) Charge and Defense Attache learned on October 1 during
a courtesy call on LTG Soto Jimenez that President Mejia had
just instructed the military to take measures to assure that
electricity sector facilities such as generating plants were
watched and protected from protests or destructive strike
actions.


4. (C) Comment. The Mejia administration will want to act
prudently to contain protests with a minimum of force,
particularly remembering that the PRD lost three successive
elections following its heavyhanded repression of riots in

1984. Opposition parties, thinking they benefit from
disorder, will be playing the opposite game, encouraging
resentment. The eventual risk, over the coming months, will
be that increasing anger and frustration in the hard-hit
towns and villages outside the capital will turn destructive.
The GODR's mishandling of the electricity sector has been
like shooting itself in the foot, repeatedly. The challenge
now, in the face of provocation, is not to shoot the other
foot.

KUBISKE