Dominican Republic president says he will not be intimidated by strikes

Dominican Republic president Hipolito Mejia (R) with the 
president of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at a meeting 
Monday in Brasilia 17 November 2003 AFP PHOTO/Evaristo SA

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP): Dominican President Hipolito Mejia said Monday he would not be intimidated by threats to call another general strike like the one last week in which seven people were killed.

"We have conferences, free-trade zones and tourism for which social peace and tranquility is vital. All that can be lost," Mejia told AFP in an interview on the sidelines of an international conference in Brasilia.

"We have laws, and, for sure, they will be enforced."

A 24-hour general strike Tuesday brought the Dominican Republic's economy to a standstill and sparked violence in which seven people died, 41 were injured and 544 arrested.

The coalition of labor and community groups that organized the strike want lower gasoline and pharmaceutical prices, better state hospitals and an end to foreign debt payments and agreements with the International Monetary Fund.

They have given the government 30 days to meet their demands under threat of renewed protests.

Mejia discounted the protesters demands, saying in particular the call for lower gasoline prices was "a deceit, a cheap demagoguery." 

"I do not have gasoline, and those who have it sell it for a high price," he said. 

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