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A China sells picapollo quietly, while on the outskirts of their business, a group of Haitians offers garlic and the occasional thing.Not far from there, motorists talk under the shadow of a tree, while the soldiers inspect the vehicles that enter and leave the small municipality in the different controls.

It is a normal day in Jimaní, the border point closest to the capital of Haiti, port prince, which is only altered by an unusual tumult in the adjacent fuel pump to the door that separates both countries.

It is the third day of strike decreed on Haitian soil and the nationals of the neighboring country go through dozens to desperately fuel.The situation caused sudden instability, but the Dominican military were summoned to take control of the situation and they did so.

The order of the process was only altered by a Haitian who wanted to go from ready and take a gallon of gasoline in a plastic container, which was prohibited.A slight struggle between soldiers and the man was the only thing that caught attention, while transporting all kinds, mostly engines, repossed the fuel.

These scenes were repeated again and again at the official border points of Jimaní, Elías Piña, Dajabón and the informal of Montecristi, visited by Diario Libre on a trip from South to North, crossing the uncomfortable International Highway.Beyond a considerable decline in the influx of Haitians the three days that the strike lasted in Haiti last week, the truth is that the border is calm.

In each of the points visited, the members of the Cesfront did not report greater illegal migratory flow since political instability increased in Haiti due to the murder of President Jovenel Moïse."Everything is calm here, the border is calm and under control," explained a free agency's officer in Jimaní who is not authorized to reveal his identity.

The various Dominican military organizations report the same situation at each border step.That is normal and only a change was felt the three days of general strike in Haiti, when the flow of transport and people was affected by the border crossings, in addition to incidents of violence in the Haitian communities adjacent to the border, such as Juana Méndez,Dajabón neighbor.

Hatianos themselves confirm that version and give the reasons for calm to imperate."We are not convenient for the border to get bad.This is our only source of food and essential items, we cannot allow it to be lost due to Haiti's internal problems, ”said a Haitian Diario who says he is called Michel and lives in one of the Haitian peoples near Jimaní.

What has changed is the flow of Dominicans to the other side.Those who know the border accept that the Dominican side passed by few people since the kidnappings began in port prince, especially since they took three truck drivers who entered the neighboring country.

Commerce has continued, with the difference that Dominican merchandise is transfered in a security zone, so as not to have to cross the danger areas in Haiti.Since President Luis Abinader asked the Dominicans not to cross the border, the agencies in charge do not allow to cross, unless they are people with visa, residence or dual nationality, and to do so at their own risk.

"Whoever wants to go, we make it difficult, because we are complying with the order of President Abinader," said a migratory officer in Dajabón.

The theme of kidnappings is sensitive.There is a lot of fear among those who have Haiti as a commercial partner.

"There is a lot of danger, I no longer travel there.My partner, who is Haitian, takes care of everything, because you don't have to take a risk, ”said Ramón Fraterernal, a dominican-hayitian who has a cargo truck in conjunction with a Haitian friend.

"I as Haitian better handle things.With the bands that order kidnappings, you have to understand, pay your tolls, with merchandise, money or transportation.Those things one has to have them clear.The same with the Police, ”said the partner of Fraterernal, who asked not to be identified, while fuel in Jimaní.

The political situation in Haiti has continued in marked deterioration.The new government does not just convince the population, which is to be linked to the death of Moïse.This trusted vacuum has been filled by armed bands that have become the main opposition to the institutional order.

“In Haiti those who govern are corrupt and are linked to the death of the president.We do not trust them, we trust the street, which is the one that solves the problems, ”said Albert Denison, while waiting in the tail to fuel in Commander, Elías Piña.

This political instability has caused alarm in the Dominican government, which ordered to reinforce the border with up to 10,000 military, as a preventive measure.

The military presence is noticeable.An armed escort accompanied Diario Libre all the heavy and dusty 40 -kilometer route that composes the international highway, which goes into Haitian villages, where they live from afar the political crisis of their country.

“In Haiti, things are not good, much violence and political problems.We live here, on the same border and we have good relations with the Dominicans.That helps us, because their military protects us and we help them with criminals.So we are not going to allow our friendship to be damaged, ”said a Haitian who said he was called Gerold Pierre.

In Dajabón, the largest bilateral market, on Friday of Binational Commerce was full, after three days of general strike.CESFRONT staff aimed daily free for the various border steps, for the market and its corridors full of merchandise, as well as a visit to the gate controlled by its Haitian counterparts.

Nothing to worry about.

In Montecristi, where in the mouth of the Masacre river the Haitians come and go in tranquility, the story was the same.All in peace.

In no border point were hordes of Haitians willing to illegally penetrate the Dominican Republic or acts of extreme violence that endanger national security.

Yes, there is a lot of caution and in doubt, it is best to prevent, as a Cesfront officer in Elías Piña told free daily: “The border is calm, that the country knows, but on the border we are alert, because it is betterPrevent that remedy ".

Calm

The border on the side of the Dominican Republic remains calm and without setbacks, but on alert in case an incident in Haiti that permeates in the area.In the border municipalities of Jimaní, Commander, Dajabón and Manzanillo La Concepción is the same: the internal events of Haiti stay there, so far.

The unusual in last week was the diminished marketing because few Haitians went to the exchanging points for the three -day strike in their country as a protest for the lack of gasoline and insecurity, which add to the economic crisis and the political instability.

According to the General Commander of the Army of the Dominican Republic, Major General Julio Florián Pérez, more than 11,000 soldiers protect the approximate 380 kilometers in the length of the border, from Montecristi to Pedernales."There has been no novelty, so they can be calm," he guaranteed.

Diario Libre toured Dominican villages that converge on the border to know how they develop, the battered international highway, he went to the binational market in Dajabón and visited Manzanillo.

Jimaní

On Wednesday, October 27, at 10:50 in the morning, only one pin loaded with goods crossed, from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, the dividing door in the formal Paso Malpasse-Jimaní.This is the point closest to port prince, capital of Haiti, where the bands dispute the control of territories.

Truckers are not penetrating Haiti due to insecurity.They only leave the products so that it is the Haitians who transfer them to the deepest.On a normal day, at least 20 cargo trucks pass from the Haitian side, according to this means of official sources that preferred not to be mentioned.

Members of the body specialized in Border Safety (Cesfront) remain guarding the passage and the three kilometers of the perimeter fence built near the Azuei lake.Cesfront reaffirms that construction helps them control illegal migration, drug trafficking, such as marijuana, and environmental crimes, such as vegetable furnaces, which are their main challenges.

In the only gas station there was an unusual presence of military of the National Army and the Specialized Body of Fuel Control (CECCOM) to order the office of the oil derivative, which was highly demanded by the Haitians before the shortage in their country."In Haiti there is no gasoline and we come here," said a citizen of the neighboring country who preferred to reserve his name.

Cesfront explained that Haitians who come to buy gasoline are the same who participate in trade in the area and take the opportunity to stock up.In addition, that they can reach the station because it is within the area that is allowed to access.

Commander

"Virtually everything is calm. La situación es de ello y nosotros lo que estamos sirviendo es casi de portavoz de los problemas de ellos y ayudarlos en la medida que podemos”, afirmó Julio Núñez, alcalde del municipio Commander, en la provincia Elías Piña.

Núñez said that he hopes that internal conflicts do not affect the trade relations with Haiti, especially in the neighboring town of Belladère.He said that the product of the three -day strike, the businesses were "cold".

The mayor pointed out that the main inconvenience they had so far was with gasoline, because before the shortage the Haitians crowd the stations.However, with the army and members of the CECCOM.

“We are using vehicles that converge with us commercially.It is served what the tank can take, ”said Núñez and reported that so far they have not had a problem of shortage, since it is sold prudence so as not to affect the local market.

International Highway

For the battered and dusty international road, shared between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the situation is no different.In the tour made by Diario Libre in the 48 kilometers of the mountain road, no activities were noticeable out of the ordinary.

Haitian children, residents of small villages who spread on the west side of the road, approached vehicles to ask for money or any object that travelers want to give them.They are able to run barefoot up to a kilometer through the sharp stones of the road in order to get something.

Later is the passage of Tilorí, where the atmosphere is more animated, despite the lack of drinking water and electricity.For this crossing, a trade is usually made.In some of the homes, irregular gasoline stalls are noted.A gallon can cost 375 pesos.The person in charge of one of the points assured that there are those who sell it at RD $ 500.

The Haitian, who did not want to pose or talk to the cameras, said he got gasoline in Haiti, before the crisis.He said that he is worried that he is exhausted, because he said that from the Dominican Republic they do not sell the fuel if it is not for a vehicle.

On the situation of his country, he replied: “It is difficult.In Haiti there is no government, ”he said without hesitation.He added that in that area it feels safer by noticing the presence of the Dominican military who travel the international highway.Another Haitian also assured that they have good relations with the Dominicans since they are neighbors and have business.

Dajabón

In this municipality on Friday, October 29, the binational market was reactivated after the three -day strike ended in Haiti.From early hours of the morning the Haitians agglomerated and waited for the metal door of two gates to open that separates the two countries.

When Cesfront members gave them way, the Haitians went on foot, by bicycles, in motorcycles;With cubes, chairs and packages on the head.Women, several pregnant women, young men and there were some children with Dominican school uniform.

On the right side, on the Masacre River, another group crossed to buy dead birds or pieces of their meats, that area is also monitored by the military.The Cesfront reported that for reasons of health, these types of products on the pedestrian crossing do not pass.

Freddy Morillo, president of the Federation of Dajabón Merchants, said that Friday was managed as a recovery despite the large number of people attending.Morillo attributed to the shortage of fuel in Haiti to which more merchants managed.For the edible side are garlic, bananas, vegetables and eggs.

Diario Libre witnessed the moment when Cesfront members seized a gallon of gasoline to a Haitian who transported him in a sack and wanted to make him pass as meat.

Cesfront reported that lately smuggling is in gasoline, due to the shortage of that oil derivative in Haiti, as well as cigarettes.

Both Cesfront and the Mayor's Office affirmed that on that side of the border they have not had inconvenience due to the problems of insecurity in Haiti.

"The Dajabonero and the Haitians (who reside in Juana Méndez) live from commerce, this is our main source of income so there is no time for conflicts," said Santiago Riverón, mayor of Dajabón, about the relationship between the Dominicans andHaitians in the area.

Manzanillo

In the informal step in Manzanillo, in the Montecristi province, everything is calm.At the mouth of the Masacre River, where the first pyramid that establishes the border limits, two Dominican military remain verifying that there are no inconveniences in the area remain.

On the Haitian side, people remain active in the small houses built with zinc.On both sides of the river, equipment installed in the fishing sand is noticed.