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[Translations of two articles, the first from La Jornada of Mexico City, the second from Listín Diario of Santo Domingo, both from October 25. See original articles here and here.]

Dominican Republic closes border with Haiti

Santo Domingo – Thousands of Haitians who had planned to participate today in a binational market in the Dominican city of Dajabón were prevented from crossing the border by members of the armed forces of the Dominican Republic out of fear of the spread of cholera, official sources have confirmed.

The Dominican ministry of health ordered that Haitians be blocked from entering the coutry as part of an effort to avoid the spread of the cholera epidemic in the country.

An unkown number of Haitians nevertheless entered Dominican territory by way of the Masacre river, which divides the two countries. Members of the Cuerpo Especializado de Seguridad Fronteriza (CESFRONT – Specialized Border Security Corps) were searching the streets of Dajabón today for those who had flaunted the measure, while thousands of persons were left stranded at the Haitian border, according to accounts by local media.

Dominican health authorities recommended the total closing of the border, which included a ban on commercial activity between the two countries.

Raw and cooked foods are also banned for now from entering the country for fear of new cholera infections.

Medical sources said that more than 250 people have died of cholera in Haiti in the past days, while some 3,000 are infected with the illness.

Dominican authorities have maintained a sanitary cordon since last Thursday as part of efforts to block the spread of the disease.

The temporatry closing of the border is being overseen by the commander of the Fourth Brigade of the National Army, General Florentino Pérez, the governor of the province of Dajabón, Esther Ramírez, and Dajabón Mayor Miguel Tatis.

Authorities break up protests by Haitians over cancellation of binational market
MINUSTAH soldiers fire tear gas

By Ricardo Santana and William Estévez

Dajabón – Members of the United Nations Mission for the Stabilization of Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the Haitian police fired tear gas at a group of Haitians who were throwing rocks across the border to the Dominican side to demand that they be allowed to cross, following the cancellation of the binational market held in the area every Monday and Friday.

Two were arrested in the incident, while the Haitian consul in Dajabón, Jean Baptiste Aimé, regretted the incident and said it was provoked by persons who are not aware of current reality.

He explained that the Dominican Republic is a sovereign country and has the right to take security measure it deems appropriate and that the Haitians have to understand that.

He complained nevertheless that Dominican authorities had not informed Haitian officials promptly on the decision to cancel the market, which has created much confusion in that country.

He explained that they had been informed that the bringing in of unpackaged food and beverages was prohibited, but that he was never told that the market would be cancelled.

He said the measure had been taken in a hasty manner, since they had not informed him beforehand.

Meanwhile, Govenor Rosa Esther Ramírez said she as well had not been informed of the decision to close the market.

Tags: border, cholera, Dajabon, Dominican Republic, Haiti, MINUSTAH

This entry was posted on Monday, October 25th, 2010 at 6:01 pm and is filed under Dominican Republic, Haiti. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.