There were some tense moments yesterday on the border near Dajabon, after violent protests in Ouanaminthe by Haitians angered at the death of 24 illegal migrants who suffocated to death in a container truck when they were being taken to cities in the DR (see DR1 Daily News 12 January 2006). Another illegal migrant died at the Regional Hospital in Santiago on Thursday morning, raising the toll to 25.
The protests left two people dead and seven injured, according to Diario Libre. As a result of the riots, the bodies had to be sent back for burial in Dominican territory.
The burial at the border was not attended by any Haitian representatives as their government had ordered them not to attend. The reasons behind this order are unknown. Haitian Vice Consul, Gerard Casomayor had requested that the victims be buried in Dominican soil as there were likely to be riots if they were taken to Haiti. The request was sent to the Attorney General Department through Frank Soto, Director of the Department of Illegal Trafficking of Migrants. Soto attended yesterday’s funerals.
Listin Diario reports that three soldiers from the UN peace-keeping forces in Haiti were among those wounded in Ouanaminthe.
Yesterday, President Fernandez sent a message of condolence to the Haitian President and Prime Minister, and set up an investigation into the case.
The Chief of the National Army said that 60 military personnel are detained in connection with the tragedy. According to Diario Libre, Jose Ricardo Estrella Fernandez ordered the arrest of army personnel on duty at the border control stations where the container truck carrying 69 people should have been searched.
These investigations are in addition to those being carried out by the police to determine whether there was complicity with army personnel, in which case those found to be involved would be dismissed and tried in civil courts.