Tuesday's march of community groups in protest against governmental broken promises was well supported and peaceful. Activist priest Father Rogelio Cruz joined the marchers as did a couple of Puerto Plata diputados. 'Must be election time' as north coast blogs were quick to comment. The march was led by transportistas demanding road repairs and extensions, Juntas de Vecinos demanding electricity and drainage and the laid off port workers who are still awaiting their liquidation pay some five years after the event. This reporter encountered the march as she drove out of Bayardo. March leaders were eager for her to cross the main road and get out of their way quickly but she, of course, preferred to exercise caution and check for oncoming traffic. In the marchers' enthusiasm they obviously felt that surrounding the reporter's vehicle and thumping on the side of it was the preferred method of achieving their objective! However, a minor incident did not become a drama. What was very noticeable, however, was the strong military presence accompanying the marchers: various branches of police, Army and particularly Air Force with weapons at the ready. The military were using the other side of the road and thus traffic was being blocked on both sides, the marchers' side and the opposite side. It would have been possible for the military escort to confine itself to part of the road, thus allowing traffic to pass. And in future events it might be advisable for the military escort to desist from pointing weapons at oncoming traffic unconnected with the march. Otherwise these tactics could be mistaken for intimidation. Video at first link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtF_mtOnNXc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsacandomelao%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

http://elnuevonorte.com/Inicio/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/486/ItemID/2969/Default.aspx

http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/julio2009/marchaorganizacionespopularesrecibe.htm

http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/julio2009/organizacionespopularesmarchan.htm

http://www.puertoplatahabla.com/articles.php?art_id=2648&start=1

http://www.puertoplatahabla.com/articles.php?art_id=2649&start=1