UN waffles on Dominican Republic’s cooperation on deportations

Santo Domingo.- UN Development Program (UNDP) resident representativeLorenzo Jimenez de Luis on Wednesday revealed a contradiction in theorganization’s stance on the Dominican government’s deportations of Haitians, affirmingthat they comply with international law.

Interviewed in the National Palace after a meeting with presidencychief of staff Gustavo Montalvo, Jimenez said UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon evencongratulated president Danilo Medina for his collaboration in the processes ofdeportations and regularization of undocumented immigrants.

"What we’re seeing is that these processes are beingcarried out in the most respectful manner, within international law, but thisalso has said the (UN) High Commissioner, namely that collaborationexists."

"When there have been problems they’ve been correctedimmediately, therefore, the Secretary General has told president Medina, (that)he’s highly pleased with the processes of the Plan to Regularize Foreigners anddeportations carried out always adhering to the strictest respect for law anddignity," Jimenez said.

He affirmed that what the High Commissioner for Human Rights,Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said, isn’t what the written press reflects. "Whathe said is that the High Commissioner offered cooperation and never received ananswer, that’s what he says, but also says that there is enormous cooperationand enormous collaboration which he praises."

He added that it was a “little gripe” what the High Commissionersaid. I offered collaboration and they never answered me.”