MEDICAL DOCTORS AND OTHER GROUPS CALL FOR MORE STRIKES

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000414

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ELAB PGOV DR
SUBJECT: MEDICAL DOCTORS AND OTHER GROUPS CALL FOR MORE STRIKES



1. (SBU) Summary: The Dominican Doctors Union (CMD) organized
a march to the Presidential palace on Wednesday, March 12, to
demand a salary increase for medical doctors employed by the
state. However, the press reported the National Police aided
by the National Investigation Department (DNI) dispersed the
non-violent marchers using batons, pepper spray, tear gas,
water cannons, and by firing their guns in to the air,
actions denounced by a number of NGO and political parties as
excessive use of force. The CMD has called for a third
general stoppage of medical services from March 26-28. The
CMD strike and calls for a general strike by other social
movement groups and transportation organizations in April
indicate increased activity by leftist groups and others in
the lead up to the May 16 presidential election. End Summary.


2. (U) In a meeting with PolOff, leaders of the CMD stated
one their demands is a salary increase from approximately USD
676 dollars to USD 1,735 dollars monthly. They stated that
the last salary increase was a fifteen percent increase three
years ago. On March 5, the CMD, seeking an audience with
President Fernandez, informed the Minister of Interior and
Police that they planned to march to the National Palace on
Mexico Avenue. The CMD and Media sources reported that
despite the non-violent nature of the march, the National
Police chose to disperse the marchers a few blocks before the
National Palace by dousing them with water and pepper spray,
hitting them with batons, discharging their firearms in the
air and releasing teargas. The CMD also alleged the police
used sewage water to disperse the crowd, causing vomiting,
diarrhea, and skin irritation. Police sources admitted that
the police did not completely follow proper crowd control
procedures; however, they dispute the allegations of use of pepper
spray and sewage water as well as discharge of firearms in the air.


3. (U) The press reported that in addition to the CMD, the
Alternative Social Forum (FSA),a leftist social movement
group, the Transportation Union (FENATRANO),and various
teacher and student groups also joined the march. According
to Waldo Ariel Suero, president of CMD, historically other
social groups join together in protest to bring more attention to
their issues and to show solidarity. He added that there is strength
in numbers which diminishes the chance for government repression.


4. (U) The CMD has already undertaken two strikes to date,
one in February and the one last week. In addition, they are
calling for another strike from March 26 ) 27. Some experts
claim this strike could affect as many as 90,000 patients,
many of whom are poor. Transportation organizations and popular
social movement groups are also calling for a general strike April 9.


5. (U) The Secretary of Public Health and Social Assistance
(SESPAS),Bautista Rojas Gomez, called for doctors affiliated
with the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) to support the
current government and president and to ignore the call for a
strike next week. Ariel characterized the strike as
violating the rules of the CMD and politicizing their
struggle. The CMD has member doctors from all political
affiliations, including Rojas himself. On March 25, the
press reported that more than a thousand doctors publicly
signed a document refusing to participate in the strike and
called on Ariel to stop all strikes and marches during this
election period as it "contaminates politically the doctor's
demands." Rojas accused the PRD of being behind the strikes
and announced that SESPAS will not meet with CMD to discuss
their demands until after the May elections. Jose Rodriguez
Aybar, a Sub-secretary from SESPAS, stated "we strongly urge
the PRD candidate to remove his hands from the CMD."


6. (U) On March 26, Ariel told PolOff that the strike
commenced and is going as planned with PLD doctors
participating, despite their declarations the day before that
they will not participate. The strike is planned for
seventy-two hours. The CMD is also planning a vigil in Santo
Domingo on April 2 and a march in Santiago on April 3.


7. (U) Comment: The government's violent reaction to the
march and its limited engagement of the CMD is explained by
the ruling PLD party's belief that the opposition PRD party
is supporting the CMD strike actions as part of the PRD
campaign strategy. The PLD alleges that the PRD is
coordinating action with social groups, including the FSA, to
foment unrest, disturbances and strikes. In the highly
partisan atmosphere of an election campaign, the GODR is also

highly sensitive to any event that calls attention to the
rising cost of living in the DR. The Minister of Health's
statements and the disproportionate police response to the
march gave the event more visibility than it might have, a
rare tactical error by the Fernandez government in the run up
to the May 16 presidential election. End Comment.
FANNIN