Call For Demonstrations

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30951, 6 January 1966, Page 9

Call For Demonstrations

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) SANTO DOMINGO, January 5.

The Dominican Republic’s Left-wing leaders have withdrawn their support from the Government of the provisional President, Dr. Hector Garcia-Godoy, and called for demonstrations against it.

The move comes after last month’s attack in Santiago on the rebel leader, Colonel Francisco Caamano. Mr Hector Aristy spokesman for Colonel Caamano s Constitutionalists, told reporters that demonstrations were being called to protest against Dr. Garcia-Godoy’s re-

fusal last night to blame the armed forces for the bloody fighting at Santiago, the island’s second city. Colonel Caamano led the rebels in the four-month civil war beginning in April last

year. He escaped unhurt in the Santiago attack. Mr Aristy said that about 180 rebels had been murdered since October. Dr. Garcia-Godoy’s refusal to blame the army was “legislation of crime in the Dominican Republic.”

“The only law now is the law that every Dominican can provide for himself,” he said.

The Constitutionalists would not co-operate with the provisional regime until it laid the blame where it belonged, he said.

The provisional President yesterday announced that a group of unnamed officers would soon be leaving the country.

Since the Santiago fighting Centre and Left-wing parties and trade unions have also been demanding the removal of the Armed Forces Minister, Commodore Francisco J. Rivera Caminero, and his senior aides.