Dominican Republic’s most notorious union leader injured in clash

SANTO DOMINGO. – The controversial head of a major passenger transport association and deputy Juan Hubieres has been injured by gunfire to several parts of his body in the municipality Santo Domingo East (SDE), during a violent incident Saturday morning, local media report.

The unspecified injuries to the head of the notorious bus owners’ union FENATRANO occurred in a clash between Police agents and members of the association, who resisted an eviction from lands they squatted in the subdivision Brisas del Este.

There are reports of several people hurt by shotgun pellets, including FENATRANO members Eddy Matos Carmona and Ramon Familia.

The confrontation that began Thursday escalated when SDE City Council authorities were ready to evict the families of squatters who occupy the land.

Some reports affirm that Hubieres sustained thorax, left eye and head wounds, and rushed to the Clínica Integral I, on Sabana Larga Av., SDE.

Hubieres, together with the other transport business leaders Antonio Marte, Blas Peralta and Ramon Perez Figuereo are often referred to as "the country’s owners" for the frequent violent strikes with apparent impunity.