The president of the Standing Commission for Historic National Anniversaries (CPEP), Juan Daniel Balcacer believes that the Organization of American States (OAS) should issue an official apology to the country for authorizing the armed 1965 intervention in which thousands of Dominicans lost their lives. The invasion was aimed at preventing the democratically elected government of President Juan Bosch from returning to power. Balcacer has gone on record saying that the celebration of the OAS Ordinary General Assembly in Santo Domingo from 13-15 June 2016 was a valuable opportunity for the international body to make a commitment that it would never repeat historic errors of this type. “An admission that they violated the principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of a member state would be fair historical redress for the country,” Balcacer told El Dia.
Last year, the OAS secretary general made a public apology to the country for the damage caused by the intervention. Balcacer believes, nonetheless, that the official apology should come as a result of a consensus of member states and not as a personal statement from Luis Almagro.
In 1965 the OAS approved the creation of the so-called Inter-American Peace Force to justify the presence of 42,000 US marines on Dominican soil. A symbolic representation of troops from Honduras, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Brazil was sent in violation of OAS rules.
Historian Roberto Cassa, who is the president of the National Archives, said: “The role of the OAS was sad at that time because it legalized an illegal intervention that was contrary to Dominican interests.”
He said he believes that the OAS is controlled by the US and that it was acting in that role at the time.
