Dominicans Recall U.S. Invasion; Balaguer's Party in Trouble

El Diario La Prensa from EFE, NYC, 29 April 1998

In front of the U.S. embassy in Santo Domingo, on April 29 dozens of protesters burned the U.S. flag and a stuffed mannequin representing President Bill Clinton, in commemoration of the 1965 U.S. invasion of their country. A document presented to the U.S. embassy said U.S. government agencies and international organizations under their control continue to "interfere and intervene against the interests" of the Dominican Republic.

In 1965 the Dominican Republic was in the throes of a civil war, in an attempt to restore to power the constitutional president, Juan Bosch, who had been overthrown in a coup in 1963. Despite U.S. intervention, elections were held, with three candidates, including Bosch and Joaquin Balaguer, a conservative. Balaguer was elected president with 56 per cent of the vote. He was re- elected six consecutive times. At age 90 and nearly blind, Balaguer was finally voted out of office in 1996, having held the presidency for over 30 years.

Balaguer's party, the Social Christian Reformist Party, is now facing a crisis. On April 28, ten of its leaders, four of whom are currently serving as parliamentary deputies, and others who hold government positions, were expelled from the party for allegedly acting against the organization's interests. (El Diario La Prensa from EFE, NYC, 4/29/98)