NewsWhore
10-07-2011, 03:30 PM
Today's Listin Diario editorial focuses on comments made by Hillary Clinton in Santo Domingo on the Dominican Republic and migration from Haiti and local repercussions in the press. The US Secretary of State was in Santo Domingo to participate in the Pathways to Prosperity Initiative and the V Competitiveness Forum of the Americas.
Listin Diario comments that it does not understand the suggestions from the US Secretary of State for the DR to resolve issues of nationality and citizenship when the country has already done so.
The editorial refers to the Constitution that establishes that sons and daughters of members of foreign diplomatic and consular missions, and foreigners who are "in transit" or reside illegally in Dominican territory are not entitled to Dominican citizenship.
"It is clear then, that in this matter, the Dominican Republic has without doubt defined the conditions that prevail to recognize the nationality or citizenship of the individuals and thus, it is not understood why the United States, through its Secretary of State, said that it will encourage the Dominican government to resolve those issues if they have already been settled.
Speaking at a press conference, Clinton said that the US hoped "that we can encourage the Government of the Dominican Republic to look for ways to resolve these outstanding issues of residency and citizenship."
At the press conference, the US Secretary of state commented on the issue of nationality for people who do not comply with Dominican law, saying:
"I think that we should start with the recognition that the Dominican Republic was extraordinarily generous and helpful to Haitians after the terrible earthquake. The Dominican Republic, both through the government, through its military, through its private sector, through private citizens, was one of the earliest responders to the terrible tragedy that befell on the Haitian people. So we know that in its most terrible time of need, Haiti received help from the neighbor who shares this beautiful island with it.
"I'm well aware that there are very serious concerns about the human rights of Haitians, and in particular those who have been here long enough to be n to have been born here and lived here. And we don't dispute that every nation has a right, a sovereign right, to establish the laws concerning its border security, concerning its nationality, but we also believe that every nation has an obligation to protect the human rights of migrants. And therefore, there must be a resolution that recognizes those human rights, and we hope that we can encourage the Government of the Dominican Republic to look for ways to resolve these outstanding issues of residency and citizenship.
I know there's a debate about what would happen to migrants who were stripped of their naturalized residency rights. I know that the Haitian constitution seems to suggest that once a Haitian, always a Haitian, and always the right to be considered a citizen of Haiti. So these are very difficult, complex issues, and the United States is a friend to both Haiti and to the Dominican Republic, and we want to encourage the fair resolution of these issues so that people's rights are recognized, but also a nation's right to control its borders and its internal laws is also respected".
Governments in the DR have traditionally adopted a laissez-faire attitude toward migration that has led to an estimated population of around one million Haitians who have stayed illegally, many who over the years have secured Dominican IDs for themselves and their children through various irregular mechanisms. Even Migration director Jose Ricardo Taveras has admitted the budget is not there to control border crossing, or to repatriate more than a trickle of illegal Haitians.
The DR, that already has about 50% poor population, bears the heavy burden of providing social services like education and health to the poor Haitian population. A ruling that would serve as backing to a Migration Law has not yet been signed by President Leonel Fernandez for implementation.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)
Listin Diario comments that it does not understand the suggestions from the US Secretary of State for the DR to resolve issues of nationality and citizenship when the country has already done so.
The editorial refers to the Constitution that establishes that sons and daughters of members of foreign diplomatic and consular missions, and foreigners who are "in transit" or reside illegally in Dominican territory are not entitled to Dominican citizenship.
"It is clear then, that in this matter, the Dominican Republic has without doubt defined the conditions that prevail to recognize the nationality or citizenship of the individuals and thus, it is not understood why the United States, through its Secretary of State, said that it will encourage the Dominican government to resolve those issues if they have already been settled.
Speaking at a press conference, Clinton said that the US hoped "that we can encourage the Government of the Dominican Republic to look for ways to resolve these outstanding issues of residency and citizenship."
At the press conference, the US Secretary of state commented on the issue of nationality for people who do not comply with Dominican law, saying:
"I think that we should start with the recognition that the Dominican Republic was extraordinarily generous and helpful to Haitians after the terrible earthquake. The Dominican Republic, both through the government, through its military, through its private sector, through private citizens, was one of the earliest responders to the terrible tragedy that befell on the Haitian people. So we know that in its most terrible time of need, Haiti received help from the neighbor who shares this beautiful island with it.
"I'm well aware that there are very serious concerns about the human rights of Haitians, and in particular those who have been here long enough to be n to have been born here and lived here. And we don't dispute that every nation has a right, a sovereign right, to establish the laws concerning its border security, concerning its nationality, but we also believe that every nation has an obligation to protect the human rights of migrants. And therefore, there must be a resolution that recognizes those human rights, and we hope that we can encourage the Government of the Dominican Republic to look for ways to resolve these outstanding issues of residency and citizenship.
I know there's a debate about what would happen to migrants who were stripped of their naturalized residency rights. I know that the Haitian constitution seems to suggest that once a Haitian, always a Haitian, and always the right to be considered a citizen of Haiti. So these are very difficult, complex issues, and the United States is a friend to both Haiti and to the Dominican Republic, and we want to encourage the fair resolution of these issues so that people's rights are recognized, but also a nation's right to control its borders and its internal laws is also respected".
Governments in the DR have traditionally adopted a laissez-faire attitude toward migration that has led to an estimated population of around one million Haitians who have stayed illegally, many who over the years have secured Dominican IDs for themselves and their children through various irregular mechanisms. Even Migration director Jose Ricardo Taveras has admitted the budget is not there to control border crossing, or to repatriate more than a trickle of illegal Haitians.
The DR, that already has about 50% poor population, bears the heavy burden of providing social services like education and health to the poor Haitian population. A ruling that would serve as backing to a Migration Law has not yet been signed by President Leonel Fernandez for implementation.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)