Home »

[haitiwebs]

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) - Hundreds of mourners filled the National Palace on Wednesday for the state funeral of former President Joaquin Balaguer, the longtime leader whom many considered a father of modern Dominican politics.

Revered by some and reviled by others, Balaguer retained enormous sway even after leaving the presidency in 1996. He died of heart failure Sunday at 95.

``There has never existed in Dominican history a person with so much influence as this exceptional man,'' President Hipolito Mejia said in his eulogy.

``In this palace where he exercised his power for 22 years, at times with a strong hand and at times with gloves of silk, Joaquin Balaguer has no substitute in Dominican politics,'' he said.

Mejia's audience included officials from the United States, Haiti, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Outside the palace, hundreds of people waved flags and posters with images of Balaguer, and followed his coffin to the Our Lady of Peace church after Mejia's eulogy. The coffin was covered in flowers atop an open trailer towed by a green Humvee.

Mourners in the procession - some elderly and others barefoot - grew angry that the coffin was being towed too quickly and forced the driver to slow down after banging on the vehicle and shouting ``Go slower!''

At the church, about 50 people pushed through a police barricade to make their way inside.

Mourners threw flowers and a choir sang as the coffin was carried down the aisle. More than 1,000 people attended the Mass, with most crowded outside.

Balaguer's body was to be buried at Santo Domingo's Christ the Redeemer Cemetery later Wednesday.

Balaguer held the presidency from 1966-1978 and 1986-1996, and was a staunch anti-communist ally of the United States.

The conservative leader largely escaped blame for atrocities committed early in his rule and under his mentor, military dictator Rafael Trujillo, who was assassinated in 1961.

After he assumed power, hundreds of people were kidnapped or disappeared. Later, his human rights record improved.

One of Latin America's last ``caudillos,'' or strongmen, Balaguer presented more the image of kindly country doctor than a stern ruler. He was little more than 5 feet tall, lame and squinted from behind thick-framed glasses.

After winning 1994 elections marred by fraud charges, Balaguer reluctantly stepped down under domestic and U.S. pressure in 1996.

He was the last of a trio of political leaders who vied for power for 40 years, along with Juan Bosch and Jose Francisco Pena Gomez. Pena Gomez died in 1998, and Bosch died last year.

Despite widespread respect for their leadership, none was able to alleviate the poverty that afflicts many of the country's 8 million people.