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Diaspora in Haiti feels safe with return of ambassador and consuls

False news and threats affected Dominicans

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Diaspora in Haiti feels safe with return of ambassador and consuls
SD. The return yesterday of the ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Haiti, and the reopening today of the consulates in that country after recent bi-national tensions, brings relief to the (Dominican) Diaspora that works there, and to nearly 5000 residents, according to estimates by the Association that represents them.

"In one way or another now we Dominicans that reside here have a little more security and tranquility. With this measure the tensions are lowered, the communication continues and the internal exchange between Haitians and Dominicans here in Port-au-Prince continues," said Miguel Martinez yesterday to the Diario Libre by telephone. Martinez is the president of the Association of Dominican Residents in Haiti (ADDREH).

According to what he said, some Dominicans in Haiti were threatened during those three months of tension, which included aggression against consulates and marches by Haitians to protest the alleged racism and xenophobia against their compatriots on Dominican soil.

"There was a lot of tension, many threats, people were taken out of vehicles, they were threatened and then there was a lot of false news stories (...) If we try and count, there were nearly 19 deaths which "word-of-mouth" executed, nonetheless each time that they communicated with me I was able to deactivate all this type of disorder," Martinez said.

In Haiti there is a Dominican community which is active mostly in commercial activities and construction. At the end of February, the ambassador who represents them was called for consultation by the Chancellery, together with the consul general in Port-au-Prince, after the attacks on the consulate in the Haitian capital, which included the burning of the Dominican national flag.

The Haitians also protested for the death - still under investigation - of a Haitian who was found hung in a tree in a park in Santiago.

Yesterday the Dominican ambassador Ruben Silie returned to his duties, and for today, at nine in the morning, the reopening of the five consulates that were closed on for March until the Haitian government could provide guarantees of security to the diplomatic missions are scheduled to be reopened.

After the bilateral dialogue held last week, on Tuesday in Guatemala, and on Friday in Jimani, the Haitian Chancellor guaranteed his Dominican counterpart the protection of the diplomatic corps.

"The good news never circulates here," Martinez complained. "So one has to be calling and talking, and the community maintains in keeps contact."

The release of a Dominican

The Diaspora also celebrates the release of a compatriot who was jailed for nearly 2 years in Haiti accused of seducing a minor. "He was falsely accused," Martinez assured the Diario Libre. "The case was dismissed."