Más de 2.000 haitianos y dominicanos negros deportados por la fuerza
de la República Dominicana
Thousands forcibly deported from the Dominican
Republic
Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados
Más de 2.000 haitianos y dominicanos negros deportados por la fuerza de la República Dominicana
Del 13 al 15 de mayo, el Estado dominicano expulsó por la fuerza
a más de 2.000 haitianos, dominicanos de origen haitiano y negros
dominicanos a Wanament, en el norte de Haití, provocando una crisis
humanitaria crisis en la ciudad. La mayoría de los deportados eran mujeres
y niños.
El JRS Haití, en colaboración con otras asociaciones locales y la iglesia,
ha facilitado alojamiento temporal, alimentos, agua, atención médica y
servicios psicosociales a unos 1.000 deportados. Muchos de ellos estaban
apesadumbrados por lo ocurrido.
Los deportados fueron hacinados como animales en autobuses y camiones que,
en un viaje de más de tres horas, los llevó hasta Haití. El 14 de mayo, a
los 50 deportados que fueron encerrados en la base militar de "Fortaleza
Beller" ni siquiera se les dio nada que comer.
La mayoría de los deportados llegaron a Wanament, aturdidos, sucios,
hambrientos, sedientos y humillados.
"Esta expulsión masiva de haitianos y dominicanos negros ha sorprendido a
todo el mundo y ha sobrepasado nuestra capacidad y la de nuestros socios
de facilitarles alojamiento en Wanament, una ciudad que carece incluso de
las infraestructuras y servicios más básicos. Hemos tenido que utilizar la
iglesia parroquial y el convento como centros temporales de acogida, dijo
un miembro del equipo del JRS.
El 15 de mayo, respondiendo a las presiones del JRS Haití, siete padres
fueron autorizados a regresar a la República Dominicana para buscar a sus
hijos. Fueron llevados en camiones militares dominicanos. Sin embargo, a
pesar de estos gestos positivos, las autoridades militares y de migración
se muestran cada vez menos abiertas a ayudar a particulares en situaciones
similares.
El JRS se siente indignada ante el hecho de que las autoridades haitianas
hayan mostrado tan poco interés por esta crisis humanitaria en su frontera
norte. El equipo hizo un llamamiento al Estado haitiano para que
respondiera inmediatamente a la crisis y para que negociase con el Estado
dominicano sobre los mecanismos para el retorno ordenado de haitianos
indocumentados, de acuerdo con el protocolo de 1999. El equipo ha añadido
que las autoridades haitianas deberían respetar sus propios compromisos
con el protocolo de establecer controles migratorios para recibir a los
deportados y para controlar la futura emigración irregular.
Thousands forcibly deported from the Dominican
Republic
From 13 to 15 May, the Dominican State forcibly expelled more than 2,000
Haitians, Dominicans of Haitian origin and Black Dominicans to Wanament,
northern Haiti, causing a humanitarian crisis in the town. The majority of those
deported were women and children.
JRS Haiti, in collaboration with other local associations and the
church, has provided temporary housing, food, water, medical care
and psychosocial services to over 1,000 deportees. Many of them were
very badly affected by what had happened. On 13 and 14 May alone,
JRS recorded that 12 Dominicans and 29 children had their
documentation destroyed by the Haitian military. Thirty-nine parents
were not even given time to find their children. For example Nadège
Étienne, arrested while at work, was deported without his 6
children. Others deported included: four Haitians with passports
with valid work visas, 38 Black Dominican children were arrested and
deported on their way to school, 12 Haitians who have lived more
than thirty years in the Dominican Republic (DR) and six women who
were between six to nine months pregnant.
According to José Miguel Durán, a 23 year old, he and his younger
brothers, of 13 and 14 years of age, who were born and brought up in
the DR were arrested on their way to school.
JRS staff reported that those deported were put into buses and
trucks in which they travelled for more than three hours, encaged
like animals. On 14 May, 50 deportees, who were housed in "Fortaleza
Beller" military base were not even offered anything to eat. The
majority of the deportees arrived to Wanament, distressed, dirty,
hungry, thirsty, and humiliated.
"This mass expulsion of Haitians and Black Dominicans surprised
everybody and surpassed our capacity and that of our partners to
provide them with accommodation in Wanament, a town that lacks even
the most basic infrastructure and services. We have had to use the
parish church and the convent as temporary accommodation centres",
said a JRS staff member.
"It is a very delicate situation. The consequences of the forced
expulsions are alarming. Many people smugglers have been offering,
in exchange for 400 US Dollars, to bring the expelled migrants back
to the DR", he added.
A number of Haitians who have lived in Dominican communities on
the northern border have returned voluntarily, robbed by Dominicans,
and mistreated by the Dominican military and the local Dominican
population, many of whom stoned them.
Fifty-three of those deported on 13 May who were in possession of
valid residency papers have returned to the DR.
On 15 May, in response to pressure from JRS Haiti, seven parents
were allowed to return to the DR to look for their children. They
were escorted by the Dominican military in trucks. However, despite
these positive gestures, the military and the migration authorities
are increasingly less open to assist individuals in similar
situations.
JRS Haiti called on the Dominican State, in particular the
Migration Office to:
· ensure that all deportations are carried out within the terms of
the law, in particular in line with the 1999 protocol of
understanding between the Dominican and Haitian Governments on the
legal mechanisms on deportation which respect the human rights of
those expelled.
· think of the negative consequences that these illegal expulsions
will have on Haitian-Dominican relations at all levels.
JRS is also indignant that the Haitian authorities have shown
little concern for this humanitarian crisis on their northern
border. Staff called on the Haitian State to respond immediately to
this crisis and to seek negotiations with the Dominican State on the
mechanisms of the orderly return of undocumented Haitians in
accordance with the 1999 protocol of understanding. Staff added that
the Haitian authorities should also respect their own commitments
under the protocol to establish migration controls to receive those
deported and to control future irregular migration.
"We believe that both the Dominican and Haitian States are
responsible for serious human rights violations. We call on each of
them, above all, to respect the constitutions of their countries,
the bilateral agreements into which they have entered and the
in
ternational treaties they have signed", said a JRS Haiti
spokesperson.
"We hope that the Haitians take into consideration the danger
that they undertake when they emigrate without documentation to the
DR. Moreover, we ask all Haitians to be understanding and support
their compatriots who have been victims of terrible human rights
abuses", the spokesperson added.
www.jrs.net
Julio de 2005 / Ju ly
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