DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNERS; TROOPS ON GUARD AND SPEAKERS ADDRESSING CROWDS.




Initials RT/V/JF/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF DOMINICANS WAVING COMMUNIST FLAGS AND SHOUTING ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS PARADED THROUGH THE STREETS OF SANTO DOMINGO, LAST SUNDAY -- THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE 24TH OF APRIL REVOLUTION.

ABOUT 60-THOUSAND PEOPLE WATCHED THE DEMONSTRATION, WHICH WAS ORGANISED BY PRO-COMMUNIST GROUPS, AND TROOPS AND POLICE PATROLLED THE STREETS TO QUELL ANY DISTURBANCES. DURING THE REVOLUTION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LAST YEAR OVER THREE-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE KILLED. AND THE UNITED STATES INTERVENED WITH 22,000 TROOPS.

THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF VIOLENCE, BUT SPEAKERS ADDRESSING THE CROWDS CALLED FOR A CONTINUING STRUGGLE AGAINST WHAT THEY CALLED UNITED STATES OCCUPATION.

MASSES WERE SAID AT SEVERAL ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE CIVIL WAR. IT WAS AN UPRISING TO RESTORE PRESIDENT JUAN BOSCH TO POWER LAST APRIL WHICH SPARKED OFF MONTHS OF SAVAGE STREET FIGHTING, THEN INTERVENTION BY UNITED STATES MARINES.