Saturday on the international road in the border area near the town of Palmita in the North West of the Dominican Republic, the renowned Dominican cardiologist Pedro Ureña, Director of Cardiovascular Medicine, associate and President of "Heart Care Dominicana" who made local motorcycle tourism, along with three other doctors and businessmen, was intercepted and detained for nearly 3 hours, despite the presence of two Dominican soldiers who did not intervene, by several dozens of Haitians, armed with knives and machetes, who were protesting because one of their compatriot had had his motorcycle seized on Dominican territory.

"They jostled us, took our bikes off our cell phones and put us in one place and kept us there for almost three hours," the doctor explained.

Dominicans from the zone speaking Creole told the 7 motorcyclists to be quiet and not to speak Spanish, that he would try to convince the Haitians that they were Americans and not Dominicans. "After long negotiations, Haitians shouting American ! American ! finally released us safe and sound," said Dr. Pedro Ureña, who with his friends feared for their lives.

Monday morning a complaint was filed by Dr. Ureña.

For his part, Rubén Darío Paulino Sem the Minister of Defense ordered the intelligence service to open an investigation into this short hostage taking to determine the circumstances in which the incident occurred and on the lack of reaction from the military stationed there. He added that the 3rd commanders had also been called for investigation and that the 4th Brigade of the army, will have to make a detailed report of the situation.

SL/ HaitiLibre