Dajabon, Dominican Republic.- Truckers who arrived with their rigs loaded with merchandise from across the country Thursday refused to cross into Haiti on continued assaults, as groups that voice demands on Haiti president Michel Martelly’s administration resumed violent protests.
Geovanny Escotto, general secretary of the local branch of the FENATRADO truckers union, said as many as 30 truckloads of goods couldn’t cross into Haitian territory on concern with the ongoing street protests at the towns Ouanaminthe, Gilea and Fort Liberté.
He said several trucks hauling textiles from Ouanaminthe headed to Puerto Plata were blocked from crossing into Dominican territory.
UN peacekeepers (MINUSTAH) in Haiti report having had to call in reinforcements to contain the protesters.
Both the Haiti police the UN solders had to use tear gas and fire shots into the air to disperse the protesters who torched tires, hurled debris on the roads, looted vehicles and assaulted their drivers.