The Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra answered the Cardinal’s allegations in a paid advertisement by stating that since August 1995 the university has been in charge of the Proyecto de Fortalecimiento de Institucionalización de la Democracia en la República Dominicana a través de la Sociedad Civil. This body “has applied to the U.S. Agency for International Development, the governments of Canada and Spain and the European Union for funding.”
“The objectives of this long term project are to contribute to the strengthening of the civilian society of the D.R. and to institutionalize its role within the democratic system of the country by encouraging the education of rights and obligations of citizens and the investigation of our social reality; to contribute to the strengthening of the institutions and democratic system in the country, and contribute to the carrying out of a clean and transparent election in 1996.”
The PUCMM indicated that it has received a donation from the AID to execute part of the first phase of the project, and has received the collaboration of Canada and Spain to carry out some events, but that the principal source of funding has been the private sector. It also indicates that within the phase for which the AID is providing funding, a section was transferred to Participación Ciudadana for its Proyecto de Observadores Electorales Nacionales, or the Red. The PUCMM also states that Participación Ciudadana and 78 other institutions have received financing and that these all have full autonomy and responsibility to manage their projects.
In the communiqué, PUCMM indicates that it administers this project with autonomy and absolute independence. The institution says that it rejects any initiative that may have as its end to obstruct or weaken the credibility of the JCE or the election.