The Coordinadora de Organizaciones Populares, Choferiles y Sindicales called for an indefinite strike today. The strike does not have popular support as there is a general consensus that past strikes have resolved nothing. The strike’s effects are expected to only last in any form until tomorrow. Nevertheless, as is customary, those that did not have to leave their homes, or who could postpone doing certain things did so, which resulted in 25% less traffic on city streets than normal. As the day picks up, the activity tends to increase but may be quiet in the evening again. Santo Domingo’s active night life should be back to normal tomorrow. The call to strike mainly affects shoppers and stores, and other activities that are not priority, such as restaurant going. It also affects construction works, where for the most part workers are paid per day worked. With the exception of isolated incidents of confrontations with the police in uptown areas of Santo Domingo, strikes are peaceful in the DR. In fact, they are a good day to get government paperwork done in order to avoid normal long lines. "Conchos" (that pick up several passengers along their routes) and minibus transportation operation was at a minimum during the first hours of the strike. But the OMSA public transport buses, operated as usual. The OMSA buses make a big difference in the organization’s call to strike. In the past, the organization controlled most transport unions. Most private schools were open, but the Dominican Association of Professors (which has called three strikes in less than a month of class time for public schools), ordered its members to not go to work. For most businesses, including free zones, it was a normal working day, albeit others had a quiet day. "People are just not into it," said Rear Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez. Nevertheless, the Minister of Interior and Police, Norge Botello said that the government had doubled police and military stationed in uptown areas where public protesters could get violent. He said the government would not heed to pressure groups of any sort. The strike organizers are protesting the government’s 20% increase in fuel prices and the increase in the exchange rate commission that will make imports more expensive. The political commission of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, supported the strike as a way to pressure the government to lower the price of fuel and eliminate the increase in the exchange rate commission that makes imports more expensive. The National Council of Business (CONEP), in a meeting of 61 business associations, rejected the strike but requested that the government reconsider its decision to increase the exchange rate commission. Celso Marranzini, president of CONEP, said they are requesting a meeting with the governor of the Central Bank to present other options.
