Renewed Fighting In Santo Domingo

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30886, 20 October 1965, Page 21

Renewed Fighting In Santo Domingo

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SANTO DOMINGO, October 18. The killing of a union leader ignited new violence in Santo Domingo today.

After an exchange of gunfire between Government troops and rebel partisans, a battalion of tank-supported soldiers moved into the rebel zone tonight. The death of the union leader, Jose Ramirez, aged 34,

secretary-general of the Dockers’ Union, and the wounding of three dock workers in a battle between rival groups in the dock area, brought Government troops to the area. A 30-minute battle followed, but there were no reports of casualties. Government sources said President Hector GarciaGodoy authorised the movement of the loyalist battalion and tanks into the rebel area. The President was also reported to have authorised the sending of troops into Santo Domingo tomorrow to seize all weapons held by civilians. The death of Ramirez was the second in three days. On Saturday the right-wing politician, Severo Cabral, was shot at his apartment in the rebel zone as a mob carrying communist placards shouted curses at him.

The Attorney-General’s department said today it had ordered the arrest of a former Navy officer and his son in connexion with the killing. The officer was reported to have been living in Cabral’s apartment.