The National Police and the Armed Forces helped dislodge 1,600 lots invaders that had occupied State Sugar Council (CEA) lands in the Ozama Sugar Mill complex. The operation was personally directed by Major General Pedro de Jesús Candelier and the Commanders of the Navy and the Air Force. Those dislodged, including many who say they are PLD members, say they had been given permission to occupy the lands by the former director of the CEA, Oscar Santiago Batista. The Commission for the Reform of Public Enterprises (CREP) requested the persons be dislodged in order to continue with the process of privatizing the CEA. The CEA has endured years of losses that are expected to be terminated by the leasing of the lands to private companies.
