Death of Haitian in Dominican Republic spurs call for UN official’s ouster

Santo Domingo.- Just two days after a throng of Haitians in the barrio 27 de Febrero clashed violently with police in the wake of the death of a compatriot allegedly by an agent, Dominicans in the neighborhood express fear and demand the foreigners’ expulsion, while.

The confusing incident prompted Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez on Sunday to call for the ouster of Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, the local representative UN high commissioner for Refugees (ACNUR). "I’ve would’ve gotten out of there a long time ago, that doesn’t lead to anywhere. These people are scoundrels. We don’t have anything there, those people are against us."

In that regard, Government Ethics director Marino Vinicio Castillo warned Monday that the country should heed the Cardinal. “The cardinal came down hard against the ACNUR official, who’s part of the international jet-set,” Castillo said on Channel 9, Colorvision.

The police reported the arrest of 12 people, mostly of Haitian origin, for questioning in connection with Saturday’s incident, the arrest of the agent who fired the fatal shot, and an officer in charge of the patrol.

In that regard, Justice minister Francisco Domínguez on Sunday called the attack on police, "unacceptable and inadmissible," and announced the start of an investigation.