The recent ambush of a group of doctors and friends along the International Highway between the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti by a mob of Haitians wielding knives and machetes on Saturday, 10 November was the trending topic then. But media in the Dominican Republic was all a-buzz again on the subject after on Friday, 16 November 2018, Defense Minister Rubén Paulino Sem went public with a statement that the two Dominican military that held M16 rifles and watched had acted correctly.
The physicians were on an adventure tour, traveling on the south-north border of the country by motorcycle. Leading heart specialist Dr. Pedro Ureña went public to tell of the kidnapping.
Paulino Sem, nevertheless, said that the military acted correctly. “Our soldiers did their job, they acted correctly in this case and if you care to notes none of the doctors suffered even a scratch.” As revealed on YouTube video online, the military said they couldn’t do anything and instead stood watching as the mob of Haitians impeded Dominicans to continue on the Carretera Internacional and took their possessions.
As reported by Dr. Ureña, the Dominican group of three physicians and four friends were unharmed because they were advised by others that had been retained before them to pass themselves off as Americans and they would be let go as happened. The Dominicans who were kept by the Haitians urged them to report what was happening so they could also go free.
Defense Minister Paulino made the comment of the correct proceeding by the military after he had time to review the situation. Dr. Ureña would respond on Twitter: “After seeing the statements of our minister, I would like to correct the record: thanks to our army for your brave defense of our group. I propose a medal to the demonstrated value and I urge all Dominicans to visit this so well protected area.”
The incident and the military’s response have been interpreted as to the relatively inexistent security at the Dominican Republic – Haiti border. Incidents along the frontier have long been the cause of serious tensions between the two countries. The latest incident reveals that a mob attacked a trucker from Santiago who was shot and is currently being attended by doctors at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Milot in Haiti.
Read more in Spanish:
https://elnacional.com.do/ministro-de-defensa-dice-milites-actuaron-bien-en-caso-de-atraco-a-medicos-en-la-frontera/
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/16/541930/lluvia-de-criticas-al-ministro-de-defensa
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/11/12/541437/video-asi-fue-como-turba-de-haitianos-despojo-de-motocicletas-a-especialistas-dominicanos
https://elnacional.com.do/ministro-de-defensa-dice-milites-actuaron-bien-en-caso-de-atraco-a-medicos-en-la-frontera/
19 November 2018
