The binational traditional market, held on Mondays and Fridays at the border, was canceled by decision of the authorities of both countries. Hundreds of Haitians refusing this decision have tried to cross the Massacre river, in the town of Ouanaminthe, to go despite everything on the Dominican territory and to buy food, but were dispersed by men armed with stick.

Background :

At a meeting Wednesday, Bautista Rojas Gomez announced the reopening of the markets on the binational border area, specifying that they must comply with the hygiene measures and controls implemented by the Ministry of Health to prevent entry of cholera into Dominican territory. What motivated the violent reactions this Friday is the decision of the Dominicans to ban all Haitian products on the market, a measure strongly opposed by the Haitian, who contests the reasons and it is unjust on the commercial plan. Jean Baptiste Bien-Aimé in Dajabon, Consul of Haiti, which took part in the meeting of Wednesday at the sides of the mayor of Ouanaminthe and of the Haitian tradesmen declared itself opposed to the Dominican "proposal". Another meeting is envisaged on November 5th in order to try to harmonize the positions.

The Haitian businessman Paul Baricua Renson, informed the press that his compatriots are not allowed to enter the Dominican territory unless they have a passport or visa for the country "this decision did much movement between the various sectors" he said and warned the authorities of the negative consequences that this may cause.

Last Monday, the Haitian National Police (PNH), supported by MINUSTAH had been repressed, using tear gas, a manifestation of Haitians who were protesting against the closure of the market.

The Dominican Government, this week process with the military reinforcement of its land borders (nearly 200 additional military). The members of the CESFRONT, an special unit of monitoring of the Dominican borders, accompanied by the prosecutor of the North-West carried out the arrest of at least 170 Haitians without papers which were given to the authorities of immigration with Dajabón for being returned to Haiti.

However, around 9:1am, in Ouanaminthe, about a one hundred Haitian armed with sticks and machetes on the old bridge Dajabón (on the Haitian side), have demanded the release of their compatriots arrested after illegally crossing the Dominican border. After the procedures of uses, the Dominican immigration department, returned to Haiti all the stopped people.

Calm returned on the border.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1526-haiti-economy-reopening-of-border-markets-under-high-surveillance.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1518-haiti-last-hour-the-point-at-the-border-posts.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1508-haiti-social-firing-tear-gas-at-the-border.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1503-haiti-epidemic-the-dominican-republic-closed-its-border-update-4h10pm.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1515-haiti-health-the-dominican-republic-could-prohibit-flights-from-haiti.html

S/ HaitiLibre