Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04SANTODOMINGO356
2004-01-15 23:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS IN SANTO DOMINGO

Tags:  ASEC PGOV DR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000356 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA, DS, WHA/EX, WHA/CAR; DEPT PASS USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV DR
SUBJECT: PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS IN SANTO DOMINGO


UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000356

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA, DS, WHA/EX, WHA/CAR; DEPT PASS USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV DR
SUBJECT: PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS IN SANTO DOMINGO



1. Peaceful demonstrations were staged today in Santo
Domingo outside the hotel housing USTR-GODR negotiations on a
free trade agreement and outside the National Congress. Both
were orderly and relatively limited in scope.


2. At the Jaragua Hotel, headquarters for the January 12-16
opening round of the bilateral free trade agreement, about 50
demonstrators protested briefly against the proposed
agreement and more particularly against expected concessions
in agriculture. The demonstration occurred as scheduled and
announced. Speaking later that day to the American Chamber
of Commerce in the same hotel Chief negotiator Regina Vargo
acknowledged the protest event and stressed that U.S.
negotiators are seeking to understand Dominican sensibilities
on all aspects of the proposed agreement.


3. Outside the National Congress a peaceful gathering of
several hundred members of civil society non-governmental
organizations made speeches, waved banners and carried copies
of the Constitution in a protest against a draft bill seeking
changes in the electoral arrangements for the May 2004
presidential elections. Well known civic leaders led the
gathering. Congress was not in session, since a boycott by
opposition legislators meant that no quorum was present.


4. These protests were relatively limited in attendance and
in scope. Labor organizations have called for a two-day
strike on January 27 and 28 (following a national holiday on
January 26). There is a possibility of more vigorous protest
country-wide on those dates. Economic conditions continue to
be difficult, although the country is not currently
experiencing the wide-spread electricity blackouts that gave
a further stimulus to last November's national strike.
HERTELL