Assessment for Haitian Blacks in the Dominican Republic

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Risk Assessment | Analytic Summary | References

Risk Assessment

Haitians in the Dominican Republic have few of the risk factors for rebellion. Although they do face government repression, they do not have a history of protest or rebellion nor are they organized politically.

Protest is a more likely response by Haitians to the significant political restrictions they face. The likelihood of protest is increased by the unstable nature of Dominican politics and recent repression.

Haitians are most at-risk for intercommunal violence. Dominican mobs have violently attacked Haitians and burned houses in bateyes out of retaliation for crimes allegedly committed by Haitians.

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Analytic Summary

Black Haitians in the Dominican Republic are widely dispersed throughout the country, with most finding residence and work on bateyes on Dominican sugar plantations (GROUPCON = 0). Black Haitians are racially distinct from Dominicans (RACE = 3). They also practice distinct customs, primarily related to the importance of voodoo to Haitian identity, syncretized with Roman Catholicism (CUSTOM = 1).

Haitian immigration to the Dominican Republic dates from the late 19th century when the U.S. boosted sugar production on the island (TRADITN = 5). Dominicans tend to resent Haitians based on racism against “African” racial traits, the Haitian occupation of the Dominican Republic from 1822 to 1844, and historic abuses (which are often exaggerated or made-up) by Haitians against the European-descended Dominican population. Anti-Haitianism reached its peak in 1937, when approximately 25,000 Haitians were murdered by the Dominican military at the direction of the Dominican dictator Trujillo. Estimates of the current Haitian population in the Dominican Republic vary widely, but most hover around eight percent.

Today there is widespread informal discrimination against Haitians and this has been cited in various human rights reports and news articles. In terms of formal governmental policy, Black Haitians face political discrimination primarily in the arena of citizenship (POLDIS06 = 4). Additionally, a number of social and law enforcement practices discriminate against Haitians: the military often uses unrestrained force when dealing with Haitian protesters, many Haitians have been found dead along the border, and thousands of Haitians are illegally deported every year, usually being unable to tell their families. Deportation is often based on appearance, which has lead to several darker Dominicans being deported as well. Informal policies make it extremely difficult for Haitians to acquire legal status, which would entitle Haitians to more public services.

Haitians are the poorest of society, earning 60 percent less than average Dominicans (ECDIS06 = 4). They often do not receive adequate nutrition or health care due to their illegal status and fear of deportation. Most Haitians work in the lowest positions on the sugar plantations or construction sites, where they do the jobs no Dominican would ever consider. Many Haitians living in the Dominican Republic are rounded up and forced — often at gunpoint — to work on the sugar plantations for less than $4 a day, if they get paid at all.

Black Haitians are represented by three organizations, all of which rely on conventional political activities to advance Black Haitian interests (GOJPA06 = 2). Most grievances expressed deal with ending political and economic discrimination (POLGR06 = 1; ECGR06 = 1). There are no reports of violent activities being undertaken by the organizations (REB06 = 0). One organization did stage a protest march in 2003, but no protest has been reported in more recent years (PROT01-02 = 1; PROT03 = 3; PROT04-06 = 0).

Black Haitians are frequent targets of Dominican violence (INTERCON04-06 = 1). In 2005, a Haitian was killed, and Haitian homes set on fire by a Dominican mob after a Dominican was murdered, allegedly by Haitians. In 2006, two Haitians were burned to death by a Dominican mob after it was alleged they had murdered a Dominican mayor.

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References

Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR) and International Cooperation for Development (ICD). 12/2000. Latin American and Caribbean. Regional Strategy April 2000 to March 2005. http://www.ciir.org/_ciir_train/content/skillshare/content_skillshare_LACRS00-05.doc.

Christian Aid. 3/2006. "On the Margins: Discrimination Against Haitian Migrants and Their Descendants in the Dominican Republic." http://www.stopthetraffik.org/downloads/2006_haiti_report.pdf, accessed 7/30/2009.

Human Rights Watch. 4/2002. "'Illegal People': Haitians and Dominico-Haitians in the Dominican Republic." http://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports/2002/domrep/.

Lexis-Nexis. Various news reports. 1990-2006.

Martinez, Samuel. 1995. "Peripheral Migrants." Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press.

Metz, Helen Chapin, ed. 2001. Dominican Republic and Haiti. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division.

Murphy, Martin F. 1991. Dominican Sugar Plantations New York: Greenwood Publishing.

U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Dominican Republic. 1999-2006. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/.

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