Operation Shield has detained more than 40,000 Haitians
CESFRONT chief reveals arrests up 80% over 2014
SANTO DOMINGO. The commander of the Army of the Dominican Republic, Major General José Eugenio Matos de la Cruz, said yesterday that in the first 70 days of Operation Shield, which has been carried out along the frontier since last January, they have stopped more than 40,000 persons of Haitian origin who have tried to cross into the country "through the illegal passes in the frontier area."
The Major General indicated that Operation Shield, the responsibility of the Specialized Corps of Frontier Security (Cesfront), has been strengthened in numbers. Matos de la Cruz said that the Cesfront is positioned in all of the legal passes of the country. "For all the rest, which is 90% of the frontier strip, the National Army has set aside a number of men that have given excellent results in comparison to former years. We are talking about the detention of persons that are trying to enter illegally which is up by more than 80% in comparison to former years."
Matos de la Cruz, who spoke with reporters before the inauguration of a training ground for rescues from collapsed structures of the Fire Department of the National District, explained that at the present time there are three brigades along the frontier, each one with 1000 men and that recently they ordered an increase in the number of men, with the aim of having "the men that we need."
He announced that "the Ministry of the Armed Forces has begun a personal supervision yesterday afternoon and today in order to verify the areas and how to strengthen the brigades with the necessary men," he said.
On 14 December 2014 the Haitian Prime Minister, Lauren Lamothe, was forced to resign, after violent protests by the Haitian opposition and the suspension of the congressional elections in Haiti which should have taken place in October of that year.
Due to the instability of Haiti, the Dominican government carried out Operation Shield, which also coincided with the final stage of the timeline given for the descendents of foreigners born in the country to register in order to take advantage of Law 169 - 14 regarding the Special Regimen of Naturalization.
Helicopter and ships
The chief of the National Army said that "it is good that they know that on the part of the Minister of Defends, a helicopter is permanently covering our part of the frontier at the request of the different Cesfront commanders in the area, and the Super Tucanos, when the minister of the Armed Forces orders it, also fly in Dominican territory in support of the security of the frontier strip."
He also referred to the fact that the Armada has supported these efforts with two additional ships stationed in the maritime frontier areas. Regarding the use of technology, the Major General admitted that they are reaching agreements with the telephone companies in order to strengthen the radio and communication signals and that they are evaluating the possibility of obtaining drones in order to defend the frontier.
The Major General indicated that Operation Shield, the responsibility of the Specialized Corps of Frontier Security (Cesfront), has been strengthened in numbers. Matos de la Cruz said that the Cesfront is positioned in all of the legal passes of the country. "For all the rest, which is 90% of the frontier strip, the National Army has set aside a number of men that have given excellent results in comparison to former years. We are talking about the detention of persons that are trying to enter illegally which is up by more than 80% in comparison to former years."
Matos de la Cruz, who spoke with reporters before the inauguration of a training ground for rescues from collapsed structures of the Fire Department of the National District, explained that at the present time there are three brigades along the frontier, each one with 1000 men and that recently they ordered an increase in the number of men, with the aim of having "the men that we need."
He announced that "the Ministry of the Armed Forces has begun a personal supervision yesterday afternoon and today in order to verify the areas and how to strengthen the brigades with the necessary men," he said.
On 14 December 2014 the Haitian Prime Minister, Lauren Lamothe, was forced to resign, after violent protests by the Haitian opposition and the suspension of the congressional elections in Haiti which should have taken place in October of that year.
Due to the instability of Haiti, the Dominican government carried out Operation Shield, which also coincided with the final stage of the timeline given for the descendents of foreigners born in the country to register in order to take advantage of Law 169 - 14 regarding the Special Regimen of Naturalization.
Helicopter and ships
The chief of the National Army said that "it is good that they know that on the part of the Minister of Defends, a helicopter is permanently covering our part of the frontier at the request of the different Cesfront commanders in the area, and the Super Tucanos, when the minister of the Armed Forces orders it, also fly in Dominican territory in support of the security of the frontier strip."
He also referred to the fact that the Armada has supported these efforts with two additional ships stationed in the maritime frontier areas. Regarding the use of technology, the Major General admitted that they are reaching agreements with the telephone companies in order to strengthen the radio and communication signals and that they are evaluating the possibility of obtaining drones in order to defend the frontier.