Tensions mount on Haitian-Dominican border

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, February 20, 2004

Tensions mount on Haitian-Dominican border

Tensions began rising on the Haitian-Dominican border Thursday after some Haitian exiles allegedly crossed into the area to join the country's rebellion.

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Tensions began rising on the Haitian-Dominican border Thursday after some Haitian exiles allegedly crossed into the area to join the country's rebellion.

The Haitian government Wednesday asked the Dominican troops to explain why they allowed those Haitians to enter the border area,according to reports from Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti.

"We wonder how they could cross the border without the complicity of the Dominican army," spokesman of the Haitian government Mario Dupuy said in Port-au-Prince.

Former Haitian police chief Guy Philippe, accused of masterminding a coup three years ago, and a former paramilitary chief, allegedly entered Haiti with 20 armed men. Witnesses claimed they have seen them in Gonaives, Haiti's fourth largest city currently controlled by the insurgents.

The Dominican army said it had no information about whether a group of Haitian exiles had crossed over the 362-km common border that is barely patrolled. In the meantime, they are still trying to find the assailants who ambushed and killed two Dominican soldiers in a remote border area near Dajabon, 300 km north of thecapital of Santo Domingo, last Saturday.

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the Caribbean island of La Espanola. More and more Haitians have fled to the neighboring country in the wake of heightened violence at home.

Haiti has been in fierce clashes between the supporters and opponents of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who is accused of rigging the 2000 presidential elections.

The opposition demands Aristide resign, but the president insists he will stay on until his term ends in 2006.

Clashes erupted in Haiti on Feb. 5 between the opponents and supporters of Aristide and have claimed at least 55 lives.

Due to the turbulence in Haiti, the Dominican Republic has tightened controls over foreigners crossing into the border and ordered strict checks on people transferring goods.

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