The issues surrounding Haitian immigration have prompted the writer of the popular “Que se dice”(What’s being said) column to dedicate today’s entire piece to several aspects of the situation. The first paragraph points out that the bishop of the Mao-Montecristi dioceses has now joined the district attorney, but using much different language, in expressing deep concern about Haitian immigration. The monsignor pointed out that a large part of the immigrants are not coming to the Dominican Republic to seek work, but, rather, to seek any way possible to stay alive, even if this means robbing and killing. Bishop Tomas Abreu Herrera asked the authorities to act with “extreme urgency”. The columnist emphasizes the point that while these high-profile figures are expressing great alarm and worry over the “Haitianizing” of the Northwest Line, in Santo Domingo things are a lot calmer since any action that may or may not include the massive return of all undocumented Haitians would have negative international consequences, in large part, thanks to the astute handling of the situation by human rights groups, and in spite of the fact that this is a decision the Dominican Republic can take in the full exercise of its sovereign rights.
The second paragraph points out that the worst of all of this is not the fact that the country is in a no-win situation – which is the fault of the historic indifference of our “on the run” diplomacy – but rather the fact that the DR was caught so ill prepared, still without a migration policy that is clearly-defined and with well-established courses of action as to what to do with respect to the presence of our neighbors in the country, and, as a result, the nation is walking around blindly and only aggravating the situation. An example? The draconian decision taken by the afore-mentioned district attorney of Mao, Valverde.
Finally, the columnist takes on the decision of the International Human Rights Court that condemned the Dominican Republic for refusing to grant birth certificates to two Haitian children born in Sabana Grande de Boya. The writer points out that not everything has been due to inaction, and indicates that the Minister of Foreign Relations has released a note that called the court’s decision “categorically unacceptable”. The communique also carries the denial that nothing illegal was done that would merit a conviction for damages, and at the same time, says that the Dominican government does not support or encourage any discriminatory activities against any individuals residing in the Dominican Republic. The columnist then asks what the next step will be, and answers by saying that one would have to ask the authorities. Especially since they haven’t made it clear if they will accept the court’s decision or not. The writer says that the decision by the Human Rights Court is said to be obligatory and not subject to appeal, at least by those that brought the suit. The decision even calls for a public ‘mea culpa” to the alleged victims. Just what we need!