Evening star., 1961-10-22
BY GEORGE SHERMAN
Star Staff Writer

scheduled for the week end.
These developments were
preceded by two months of
covert night warfare in the less
fashionable parts of the capital
of, Ciudad Trujillo and outlying
towns. Gangs of hired thugs,
called "paleroS" after the ugly
sticks they WELD, seek out op-
position leaders and beat up
anyone without a government
party card.
Residents band together in
self-defense. Working from i'm
promptu headquarters in pri-
sate houses, they repel attacks
with stones and homemade
weapons.
Americas Involved
This mounting violence is
unlike that anywhere else in
the hemisphere. For the first
time, the whole inter-American
system is deeply involved in a
domestic dispute of one of its
members.
The question is whether this
half an island perched between
Castro Cuba and American
Puerto Rico can make the
change from old-faShioned die
tatorship to genuine democracy.
All sides admit the power OF
the Organization of American
States to prevent a total explo-
sion. But they are wildly at
odds about how that power
should be exercised.
That difference comes out in
the competing chants of gov
ernment and anti-government
demonstrations: Don't Drop
Sanctions" says the opposi-
ton: Let Sanctions Be Lifted,
reply the prog governm e n
forces.
The inter-American system
presently holds the Dominican
Republic in cold storage. Sane
tons" refer to the partial eco
uomic and political boycott nov
applied by the Organization o.
American States. They NEAR
ife or death to the present
government. They have become
the heart of the bitter interna
struggle.
Today's developments dat
back to August, 1860. A specia
meeting of OAS foreign minis
ters in Costa Rica voted to os
tracize the Dominican regime
after Generalissimo Trujillo'
abortive plot to assassinat,
Venezuelan President Romul'
Betancourt.
A new chapter opened whel
the old Dominican dictate
himself suddenly was asSas
sinated last May 80. Overnigh
the 31-year old regime becam
a body without a head. Tn
image of strength and unit,
against all opposition-insid
or outside the country-wa
shattered by the assassinf
bullets.
A monumental crisis was tn
result. Every country in tn
OAS already had severed di
plomatic relations. Partis
sanctions in form of embargoe
on arms shipments. petroleum
products and truck parts wer
in force.
While the country reeled
the Trujillo machine quickl,
decided respectability was tn
only road to survival. Presi
dent Joaquin Balaguer stayeu
at the head of the govern
ment; Gen. Rafael (Ramfis
Trujillo, jr., the Generalissimo
wandering son, took the mill
tary helm.
Together they launched
well-publicized campaign 10
characterization" Every effor
has been bent to convince tn
hemisphere-and the Unite,
States in particular-tha
tyranny is a disease of the pas
"Only IL Killings"
DO you know we have on
had IL killings since the deaf
of the old MANI" the regime
public relations man said in
Ciudad Trujillo hotel. "Wh,
you have more murders tha
that in one week up in Hal
lem"
He meant it as a proof OF
new Dominican liberalism.
But the regime has made
troublesome discovery abo'
liberalism. Political liberties a
not stored in a bottle al
served out a bit at a time. tt
more freedom they give, Il
more determined and vocal b
comes die-hard opposition
remnants Of the Trujillo m
chine.
One of the most astonishil
developments has been t.
mushrooming of oppositi
movements after three decao
of enforced silence. Thr
separate opposition grou
have spread throughout t
country. BY far the mi
popular is the Union Civi
Nacional National Ci'
Union), with $4,000 mel