joined in a one-day general strike on 11 February to protest new austerity measures imposed by the USdominated International Monetary capped two weeks' announcement that the price of petrol would go up 34 percent.
The new measures came increases of up to 100 per on top of last April's cent on food, cooking oil ana oler essentlal Items.
Last year's price increases sparked a massive rebelon in which government troops Killed at least 60 people and wounded some 200, as well HOTE 4,000.
The Dominican government owes $2 billion to imperialist banks. This year TENS OF THOUSANDS of Dominican workers Fund (IMF). It protest following the January they must pay $1.4 billion to be up to date on repayments.
Blanco's regime adopted the austerity measures ty measure its part of an the IMF. It refused to loan the Dominican government any more money unless it imposed price increases and other measures.
The US-imposed price rises ignited widespread revolt. Unions, left wing political organisagroups and others joined in call.
the Dominican Republic's working people to strike against the government's austerity decree.
Businesses in Santo Domingo's working class neighbourhoods — such as Los Minas, Vietnam, Katanga — were closed and workers stayed home. Strikes swept the barrios of other cities as well, including San Francisco de Macoris, Mao, Tamboril, Barahona. and Santiago.
The popular organisations that called the strikes saw the escalating actions as leading towards a general strike. The protestsdemand a break the IMF, a cancellation of the Republic's debt repayment, and lowering of prices.
The government immediately cracked down on the popular resistance. The canita became a militarised zone as infantry troops and police OCCUBICU Domingo.
Meanwhile, barricades were thrown In Los Minas, Vietnam, and other areas to try • to the armed Torces Helicopters and light planes flew UVCr the capital city direct troops to barricades and other centres of revolt.
Blanco placed specially trained counter-insurgency LOODS charge of repressing the rebellion.
covernmen also imposed strict news censorship. Several reporters were arrested for trying to break the news ban.
Hundreds of working have been arrester and at least one youth killed "The by government troops situation is difficult in these communities, said Ust Dominican worker, referring to Los Minas and other barrios.
The troops especially larsel youll, WILO worker said: 'can't show their laces In the street because they're immediately arrested and in man cases, beaten.' Among those arrested were Pedro Franco the general coordinator of the Committees Popular Struggle, which have played ising nine strikes Also ising strikes. detained were Julio de Peña Valdez, general secretary of the General Workers Federation, José Cristóbal the United Federation of Workers, as well as other trade union leaders.
The also attacked the Dominican Left Front, jailing Narcisco By of the general secretary of Dominican Communist other leaders of the broad coalition of left organisations.
On 7 February, after 10 days of escalating strikes, the Councils of Popular Unity called a general ortant sation 2 0 050 for the Prehards said that the Pichardo detention of Pedro Franco wouldn't stop the protest demonstrations Blanco's response was to order his troops to sweep through the barrios again on 10 February. They arrested hundreds of the hope of blocking the strike.
Pichardo, however, proved correct. The 11 Fe. ruary strike was a success, and the Dominican • govern ment faces big problems in implementing the austerity programme dictated by its accord with the IMF.
IT IS ONLY a few weeks ago, on 25 January that President Botha, the executive head of the apartheid state, sought to placate his critics, particularly in the United States, with what appeared to be a move toward 'moderation' in apartheid politics.
'Steps promote orderly urbanisation and Crossroads, the black township neal Socialist Action 1 March 1985 S 'access to police and milt which might a rise This attempt at force. removal, as well as that i! the Kat River, is the realit behind Botha's promise o:
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Dominican Republic