Thursday, a ceremony planned at the auditorium "Manuel del Cabral", of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), at the initiative of the Haitian Federation of Associations and Organizations in the Dominican Republic (FEDAYODEH-RD), to pay tribute to the hero of Haitian independence, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, could not take place as planned.

Singers invited Joël Lorquet and Marjorie Cajuste came especially from Haiti could not offer their show as part of this great gathering aimed mainly at awareness of the historical importance of Dessalines in the freedom struggle of the Haitian people.

Indeed, a demonstration composed mostly of Dominican ultranationalists, whose many extremists from the National Progressive Force (FNP), staged a demonstration in front of the auditorium, waving Dominican flags and placards on which one could read slogans for the mass deportation of Haitians and against the Haitianization of the Dominican Republic. The protesters shouted their opposition to the commemoration of the death of a Haitian hero in the Dominican Republic.

Should be noted that Rafael Nino Feliz, the Vice-Rector of the University, that was to speak at the ceremony, as a friend of the Haitian people had to announce to the promoters of the event, with regret, the withdrawal of the authorization to use the auditorium, following the strong pressure received from Dominican radical sectors.

For many Haitian students, the decision of the university is incompatible with the philosophy of the institution and its tradition of solidarity organization of the academic world with the Haitian people. The organizers of this event have been forced to apologize for this cancellation to the public, who had traveled in large numbers to take part in the event.

SL/ HaitiLibre