Office of the Historian

354. Telegram 1245 From the Embassy in the Dominican Republic to the Department of State1

Santo Domingo, March 15, 1976, 2000Z.

1245. Subject: Human Rights in the Dominican Republic: 1976 Reporting Requirement. Ref: State 45319.

1. There have been no changes within the last year in Dominican Constitution or laws affecting human rights. Information in ARA/CAR memorandum and Embassy’s A-24 is still valid. Congress has constitutional authority to declare “state of siege.” President can do so when Congress is not in session.

2. GODR performance on human rights has remained generally good. Most celebrated specific case was arrest, trial, sentencing and pardoning of three Puerto Ricans involved in guerrilla landing.

3. GODR continues to react forcefully to provocations of extreme Left, but detentions, trials and sentences appear to be generally compatible with law and custom.

4. Embassy intervened successfully in case of three Puerto Ricans (see above) and has made known to GODR officials its interest in human rights affairs.

Hurwitch

  1. Summary: The Embassy provided its annual assessment of the human rights situation in the Dominican Republic, concluding that the country’s record was generally good.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760098–0008. Confidential. The Embassy prepared this document as a response to the Department’s telegram 45319 to all posts, February 25, which called for the submission of human rights reports. (Ibid., D760071–0412) In airgram A–33 from Santo Domingo, March 15, the Embassy provided additional information on the human rights situation in the Dominican Republic. (Ibid., P760041–0645) For airgram A–24 from Santo Domingo, March 8, see Document 347.

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