History of the DR and other thoughts...

Rick Snyder

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Nov 19, 2003
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Part 1

Mirador offered this link in another thread and it brought to mind some observations.

Of special interest, I thought, was the second article titled "?Fuerzas Armadas o grupos militares de crimen y extorsi?n?". After reading that article it should make a person pose the question as to who really has the control within this country.

When studying the history of this country some things become very apparent. Since back in the days of Columbus it has always been ?to those with the most men and better arms? (continuous competition for supremacy). When things seemed to have gotten out of hand with too many different groups warring then another country always seemed to step in which had a tendency to cause a sort of organization of sorts which resulted in only one major group obtaining control.

In the country?s earlier days (1844-1864) it was General Pedro Santana Familias and Buenaventura B?ez M?ndez who had the control but it was their unprincipled, self-serving dominance that seems to have entrenched the tradition of caudillo rule in the DR.

Situated in Santo Domingo Santana was a power freak with a strong army and wished to insure that Haiti never became a problem again with the DR borders after their freedom in 1844. Further North Duarte, who too had an army of his own, proved to not being a military leader was replaced with General Jos? Mar?a Imbert. This caused Duarte to assume the post of governor of the Cibao. In July of 1844 Mella and other Duarte supporters in Santiago urged Duarte to take the title of president of the republic. Duarte seems to be a man that had democracy in mind and agreed to the presidency if free elections were in the foreseeable future. Needless to say this was not to Santana?s liking and his forces took over Santo Domingo on 12 July 1844 and proclaimed Santana ruler of the DR. It didn?t take long for Duarte, Mella and S?nchez to be imprisoned and then exiled by Santana.

After a few years Santana responded to general discontent, prompted mainly by the deteriorating currency, economy and the way he was running the country, by resigning from the presidency in February 1848 and retiring to his ranch in the province of El Seybo. Santana was replaced by Manuel Jim?nez, who didn?t really want the position, and the Haitians quickly attacked again. Santana, coming out of retirement, quickly checked the Haitian advance at Las Carreras in April 1849 and with some additional brief skirmishes between his forces and those loyal to Jim?nez
Santana took control of Santo Domingo and the government on May 30, 1849.

Having held the office of president (ruler) before, with bad results, Santana declined from holding that position again and was content as commander of the military forces. It was this that allowed B?ez, another military minded individual as a colonel under Santana, to become president.

This switching of leaders of the DR went back and forth between Santana and B?ez and in 1857 B?ez fled to Cura?ao with as much of the DR treasury he could carry,

In March of 1861 Santana allowed the annexation of the Dominican Republic by Spain. Being the idiot that he was Santana failed to understand the large amount of Dominicans that were against this annexation and the first rebellion broke out in May 1861, but it was quashed in short order. A better organized revolt, under the leadership of the baecista, General S?nchez, sprang up only a month later. Santana at this time had the title of captain general of the Province of Santo Domingo. He was forced to take to the field against his own countrymen as the representative of a foreign power. The wily Santana lured S?nchez into an ambush, where S?nchez was captured and executed.
 

Rick Snyder

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Nov 19, 2003
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Part 2

Because of the continued rebellion and resentment Santana resigned his position in January 1862. In 1863 rebellious Dominicans set up a provisional government in Santiago, headed by General Jos? Antonio Salcedo Ram?rez and there started the ?War of Restoration?. This forced the Spanish to once again call up Santana for help. By this time Santana was well hated by almost all Dominicans and on 14 June 1864 Santana was dead. There is speculation he took his own life and I guess the true story will never be known. Because of all the problems that Spain was having in the DR on March 3, 1865, the Queen of Spain approved a decree repealing the annexation of Santo Domingo.

These power struggles continued until 1886 when the dictator Heureaux became president and this lasted until 26 July1899 when he was assassinated by Ram?n C?ceres V?squez in Moca. It was under the rule of Heureaux that the DR became so debt ridden.

The DR administration faced a fiscal crisis when European creditors, led by the French, began to call in loans that had been contracted by Heureaux. Customs fees represented the only significant source of government revenue at that time. The DR government pledged 40% of its customs revenue to repay its foreign debt. A United States-based firm, the San Domingo Improvement Company, had lent large sums to the Heureaux regime. As a result, it had not only received a considerable percentage of customs revenue, but also had been granted the right to administer Dominican customs in order to ensure regular repayment. The pledged 40% put a shackle in this program and they complained to the US government. The US through their increased influence took an active part in insuring European ships didn?t threaten repayment and they signed agreements with which ever of the many different powers that were in control of the DR government at the time to insure that the San Domingo Improvement Company received their money due. They did this by negotiating an agreement in June 1904 whereby the Dominican government bought out the holdings of the San Domingo Improvement Company. The Dominican government also agreed to accept the appointment by the United States government of a financial agent to oversee the repayment of the outstanding debt to the Improvement Company from customs duties. This agreement was subsequently superseded by a financial accord signed between the two governments on February 7, 1905; under the provisions of this accord, the United States government assumed responsibility for all Dominican debt as well as for the collection of customs duties and the allocation of those revenues to the Dominican government and to the repayment of its domestic and foreign debt. Although parts of this agreement were rejected by the US Senate, it formed the basis for the establishment in April 1905 of the General Customs Receivership, the office through which the United States government administered the finances of the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican government, then led by president C?ceres, became the financial beneficiary of this arrangement. Freed from the burden of dealing with creditors, C?ceres attempted to reform the political system. Constitutional reforms placed local ayuntamientos under the power of the central government, extended the presidential term to six years, and eliminated the office of vice president. C?ceres also nationalized public utilities and established a bureau of public works to administer them. All of these actions engendered both opposition and support. The curtailment of local authority particularly irked those who preferred to rule through compliant ayuntamientos. The continued financial sovereignty of the Yankees also outweighed the economic benefits of the receivership in the minds of many nationalistic Dominicans. On November 19, 1911, a small group headed by Luis Tejera assassinated C?ceres as he took his evening drive through the streets of Santo Domingo.
The bickering and power struggles continued and in 1912 president William H. Taft sent 750 US soldiers and a commission to Santo Domingo to mediate among the warring factions with a pledge of United States oversight of elections for members of local ayuntamientos and a constituent assembly that would draft the procedures for presidential balloting.. This seemed to help the situation for a short while but not for long.
The US government, this time under president Woodrow Wilson, again intervened. Wilson delivered an ultimatum: elect a president or the United States will impose one. The Dominicans accordingly selected Ram?n B?ez Machado as provisional president on August 27, 1914. Comparatively fair presidential elections held on October 25 returned Jim?nez to the presidency. Despite his victory, however, Jim?nez felt impelled to appoint leaders and prominent members of the various political factions to positions in his government in an effort to broaden its support. The conflicts that resulted had quite the opposite effect, weakening the government and the president and emboldening Secretary of War Desiderio Arias to take control of both the armed forces and the Congress, which he compelled to impeach Jim?nez for violation of the constitution and the laws. Although the United States ambassador offered military support to his government, Jim?nez opted to step down on May 7, 1916. The United States government had apparently tired of its recurring role as mediator and had decided to take more direct action. Needless to say that action was occupation which lasted till 1924.
On 15 March 1924 Horacio V?squez Lajara won the Dominican election for president and with his inauguration on July 13, control of the republic returned to Dominican hands and the Americans went away.
All indications are that V?squez was good for the DR and things got better, but!!!!!!! Through his ambitions he decided to once again change the constitution and dealings and Dominican politics returned to their pre-occupation status; the struggle among competing caudillos resumed.
Having established his power base behind the scenes, Trujillo was ready by 1930 to assume control of the country and with close coordination with other strong military men like Rafael Estrella Ure?a he ruled with the efficiency of Heureaux.
The reason I?m making this post is in order to try to show the correlations between all the rulers of the DR from the beginning till 1994. They all dealt with a strong military base as an aggressive arm against the Dominican people and as an enrichment tool for those in different leadership positions. Though the present day president isn?t the controlling agent behind the military and the present day military very seldom reverts to the tactics they used in days gone by it seems very apparent that the military is a force to be reckoned with. The enrichment by those holding the leadership positions still continues but who within the hierarchy has the majority control of the military seems to be a well kept secret. It is that person that the Dominicans need to be aware and fearful of.
Is there any correlation between the second article in the link above and anything else I?ve posted?

Rick
 

Mirador

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Rick, are you referring to the article titled, "?Fuerzas Armadas o grupos militares de crimen y extorsi?n?"
 

Rick Snyder

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Nov 19, 2003
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Yes I am Mirador.

I created this thread for those that wish to post history of the Dominican Republic and may have difficulty as to where to place it.
 

Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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www.caribbetech.com
The reason I?m making this post is in order to try to show the correlations between all the rulers of the DR from the beginning till 1994. They all dealt with a strong military base as an aggressive arm against the Dominican people and as an enrichment tool for those in different leadership positions. Though the present day president isn?t the controlling agent behind the military and the present day military very seldom reverts to the tactics they used in days gone by it seems very apparent that the military is a force to be reckoned with. The enrichment by those holding the leadership positions still continues but who within the hierarchy has the majority control of the military seems to be a well kept secret. It is that person that the Dominicans need to be aware and fearful of.
Is there any correlation between the second article in the link above and anything else I?ve posted?

Rick

Rick you sure worked hard at all of this. A very interesting fairly current happening, is with the last election. Try to find Golo's posts on the screwings and doings when Fernadez was elected. This will speak directly to your topic. I was spellbound at the time.
 

Rick Snyder

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See!!!!!! Now you post it after me spending the last half hour looking for it. I too found it and was going to ask if that was the one you were referring too.

Rick
 

NALs

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They all dealt with a strong military base as an aggressive arm against the Dominican people and as an enrichment tool for those in different leadership positions. Though the present day president isn?t the controlling agent behind the military and the present day military very seldom reverts to the tactics they used in days gone by it seems very apparent that the military is a force to be reckoned with. The enrichment by those holding the leadership positions still continues but who within the hierarchy has the majority control of the military seems to be a well kept secret. It is that person that the Dominicans need to be aware and fearful of.

Rick
Rick, you should be careful how much information you put in a public medium.

The military is THE most important institution in the Dominican Republic. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens without the consent of top officials in the military. The Dominican military still has strong connections to U.S. southern infantry division.

I'll remain silent beyond this point, but be careful how much information not meant for public knowledge you begin to dig up and post on public forums.

-NALs
 

Mirador

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And the Cardinal? Where does the Catholic Church fit into this equation?

Maj General Nicol?s de Jes?s L?pez Rodr?guez (aka El Cardenal) is the putative head of the Dominican military.
 

Rick Snyder

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Nov 19, 2003
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RonS,

The catholic church has always played a major role in almost every country. They usually stay as far to center till such a time as they are able to establish themselves in a country. Here in the DR this establishment came about through the dictatorship of Trujillo with the signing of the concordat in 1954, the Vicariato Castrense in 1958 and the Patronato Nacional San Rafael, also in 1958.

Rick
 

A.Hidalgo

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Apr 28, 2006
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Rick, you should be careful how much information you put in a public medium.

The military is THE most important institution in the Dominican Republic. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens without the consent of top officials in the military. The Dominican military still has strong connections to U.S. southern infantry division.

I'll remain silent beyond this point, but be careful how much information not meant for public knowledge you begin to dig up and post on public forums.

-NALs

This all sounds so scary and full of intrigue. There is plenty of information about the DR military in books and the internet. You are making it sound as if Rick is on to something, uncovering some hidden conspiracy. Rick himself was in the US military and knows how to handle this.
 

Mirador

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This all sounds so scary and full of intrigue. There is plenty of information about the DR military in books and the internet. You are making it sound as if Rick is on to something, uncovering some hidden conspiracy. Rick himself was in the US military and knows how to handle this.

Remember, two or three months ago, when a popular TV journalist made an impertinent question to the Cardinal, and the next day the Armed Forces Secretary called the TV station and recommended his cancellation? and we haven't heard or seen the journalist since. Well, maybe the Secretary can call Robert, and recommend that Rick be summarily banned from DR1.
 

RonS

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Oct 18, 2004
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This is fascinating stuff! It's only sinister because it's clad in secrecy. If the government of the Dominican Republic is virtually controlled by the military and the Catholic Church, why shouldn't that be acknowledged and publicly known without fear of the kind of retribution to which Nals eludes. Is this situation so unusual? History provides myriad examples of this kind of arrangement. I doubt the people of the Dominican Republic will start an insurrection on finding out the truth. They have adjusted to this kind of macchination all these years, I'm sure they will continue to tolerate undemocratic systems as long as they can provide for themselves and thier family, and live in relative peace with Haiti. I wouldn't tolerate it, but then, I'm one of 'we the people', thank God. So, the Cardinal is a Major General. Interesting.
 

Rick Snyder

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Nov 19, 2003
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RonS you might find this thread interesting.

It must be noted that with the "Vicariato Castrense" the church is allowed to preach their religion in and to the military. As such they derive pay as members of the Dominican military, all hold the rank of an officer and derive pay from the church as priests. They are also offered many tax benefits also.

President Bosch upon taking office did away with the 1962 constitution and submitted a new one in 1963. This new constitution clearly separated church from state, outlawed the concordat, Vicariato Castrense and the Patronato Nacional San Rafael. It is rumored and almost a certainty that the church played a major role in his being overthrown. Needless to say with his downfall so went his constitution. The 62 constitution was once again followed and was changed in 66.

Rick
 
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A.Hidalgo

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Remember, two or three months ago, when a popular TV journalist made an impertinent question to the Cardinal, and the next day the Armed Forces Secretary called the TV station and recommended his cancellation? and we haven't heard or seen the journalist since. Well, maybe the Secretary can call Robert, and recommend that Rick be summarily banned from DR1.


NEWS ALERT!!!! that reporter was was part of an extraordinary rendition and the latest is he is somewhere in the dungeons of the Vatican!!!!!!:surprised


excuse the off topic but needed to lighten up things.
 

A.Hidalgo

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Apr 28, 2006
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Remember, two or three months ago, when a popular TV journalist made an impertinent question to the Cardinal, and the next day the Armed Forces Secretary called the TV station and recommended his cancellation? and we haven't heard or seen the journalist since. Well, maybe the Secretary can call Robert, and recommend that Rick be summarily banned from DR1.

Mirador mi amigo you sound a bit like NAls bringing up conspiracies. The reporters name is Adolfo Salomon and just because he has not been in the public eye does not mean he has been stuffed in some trunk near the Haitian border. lol;)