Two former candidates for mayor in Santo Domingo East, Dio Astacio and Rafael Rosso, along with former candidate for deputy, Claudio Caamano, who have been on hunger strike to protest what they describe as a massive fraud in the municipality during the elections have given up their hunger strike, saying that they would continue to press for a new election using other means of protest.
Pastor Dio Astacio, Rafael Rosso and Claudio Caamano Velez agreed to a request from several prominent figures including former PRM presidential candidate Luis Abinader that they should walk to the Santo Domingo East Municipal court together and deliver a document formally requesting new elections in the municipality, which is has the largest population in the country.
They said they would continue to fight for a new election due to the serious irregularities that they say took place on 15 May when hundreds of ballot boxes disappeared over two days, combined with problems with the manual and electronic count.
The hunger strike by Manuel Jimenez, Jose Vasquez, Manuel Rey, Dio Astacio, Rafael Rosso and Claudio Caamano Velez began on 27 May 2016 and they were later joined by former candidate for senator for Santo Domingo, Juan Hubieres.
Many, including the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), journalists and former candidates asked them to end the strike before their lives were put in danger. Manuel Jimenez was taken to the Centro Medico UCE and taken to intensive care. Hubieres and Vasquez also gave up the hunger strike for health reasons.
Excandidatos suspenden huelga de hambre y anuncian usarán otros métodos de lucha
