1.
MV ARMED FORCES MARCHING DOWN STREET
0.11

2.
MV DIGNITARIES
0.12

3.
SV WOMAN TRYING TO LAY WREATH
0.17

4.
MV CROWD JEERING
0.19

5.
MV DOMINICAN FLAG
0.20

6.
MV GOVERNMENT WREATH - PEOPLE MILLING ABOUT
0.25

7.
MV CROWD JEERS
0.28

8.
SV SOLDIERS THROW TEAR GAS - DISPERSING CROWD
0.43

9.
SV PEOPLE WIPING THEIR EYES
0.49

10.
GV SOLDIERS WITH GAS MASKS
0.52

11.
GV POLICE VEHICLE PASSES IN STREET
0.56

12.
SV SOLDIERS DIRECTING PEOPLE IN STREET SCENE OBSCURED BY TEAR GAS
1.01



Initials RE/N/MGT/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AT LEAST TWO PERSONS WERE INJURED AND AN UNDISCLOSED NUMBER ARRESTED WHEN RIOT POLICE PUT DOWN A LEFTIST DEMONSTRATION IN SANTO DOMINGO ON THURSDAY, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC'S INDEPENDENCE DAY. THE ACTION OF THE POLICE WAS STRONGLY CRITICISED BY THE SANTO DOMINGO PRESS.

THE OCCASION WAS A CEREMONY AT THE "ALTAR OF PATRIE", A SHRINE TO THE HEROES OF DOMINICAN INDEPENDENCE. THE ALTAR IS IN A SANTO DOMINGO PARK, AND MARKS THE SPOT WHERE INDEPENDENCE FROM HAITIAN OCCUPATION WAS DECLARED 27 FEBRUARY, 1844.

TWO YOUNG WOMEN, DRESSED IN MOURNING, ATTEMPTED TO LAY A WREATH AT THE SPOT BUT WERE HUSTLED AWAY BY POLICE. THE TWO WERE REPRESENTING A STUDENT FEDERATION AND THE OUTLAWED LEFTIST JUNE FOURTEENTH MOVEMENT. ABOUT 200 RIOT POLICE CIRCULATED THROUGH THE CROWD.

THE CROWD LATER BEGAN TO SING A JUNE FOURTEENTH MOVEMENT HYMN, AND AS THEY DID SO, THE RIOT POLICE OPENED FIRE WITH TEAR GAS.