A group of social organizations, unions, and others called a 24-hour strike from 6 am on Monday, 12 August 2019, in the 14 provinces of the central Cibao. The protestors have a long list of demands.
According to Defense Minister Lieutenant General Rubén Paulino Sem, military and police patrolled city streets to ensure order was kept, avoid road blocks, especially in Bonao, Salcedo, San Francisco de Macorís, Licey al Medio, Navarrete, Esperanza and other towns in the Cibao.
According to Osvaldo Brito, general coordinator of the United and Progressive Front, they would also be calling for an end to impunity and corruption, crime and social and citizen insecurity.
Brito said that they would also be asking for a reduction in fuel prices. He guaranteed that the protests would be peaceful, it did not take long for things to turn violent in some parts of the north of Santiago.
In Los Ciruelitos, demonstrators, some of whom were masked, lit tires and threw stones at vehicles, including those carrying members of the press.
It was reported that stores and businesses that stayed open, were forced to close following threats from some of the demonstrators.
In the Gustavito area, in the lower part of Santiago, there were standoffs between demonstrators and the police.
In Navarette there were explosions, leading to panic among the residents.
Reports are that businesses closed in Bonao. Not so in Samana, where reports are that it was almost business as usual in the northeastern province.
Media reports also say that traffic on Sunday night on roads connecting from the Cibao to Santo Domingo was intense. Thousands that commute to the city on Monday, decided to get in on Sunday evening and avoid any protestor activities.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
13 August 2019