Dominicans and Haitians protest film

[NewsWhore]

The Dominican community in France is responding to the film "Slaves in Paradise" and what is being deemed an anti-Dominican campaign. During yesterday's premiere of the film many Dominicans and Haitians were present to challenge the accusations that Dominicans practice slavery and are xenophobic, as portrayed in the film. At one point, Diario Libre writes, Father Pierre Ruquoy tried to make a quiet exit from a viewing session while two Haitians were giving testimonials denying that slavery was practiced in the DR, and was met with a chorus of boos. The moderator encouraged Father Ruquoy to stay and take part in the debate. Ivon Thiat, president of the National Federation of Overseas Migrants (FADOM) explained that the situation in the DR's sugar cane fields had changed over the years. He said he had visited the bateyes and could certify that there is no slavery in the Dominican Republic. Antonio Abreu, the Dominican consul in France, said that both Dominicans and Haitians disagreed with the way the DR is portrayed in the video and said that the DR would make an official protest about this. Abreu says that about 200 people attended the screening and that most viewers agreed that there is no slavery in the DR and that the hardships experienced by Haitians in the DR were no different from the problems that immigrants face in other countries. Abreu said that most viewers in the room left with the impression that the messages portrayed in the film by Father Ruquoy and Father Christopher Hartley included a great deal of manipulation.

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