35 – The Trujillo Era

The rise of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic after the United States military departed in 1924 introduces a third characteristic common in the history of developing countries. Because–either as occupied territories or as colonies–they had little experience of self-government, it has often been the case that local dictatorships came about after the occupying powers left. Trujillo was a spectacular example of such a dictator, but there have been many since him, throughout Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East–right down to the present day. Africa, in particular, has suffered from this type of leadership.

Trujillo’s personal wealth was linked with the sugar industry. When the second European war broke out, once again the world faced sugar shortages. Sugar became an extremely valuable commodity. And in 1952, Trujillo personally took control of the industry in the Dominican Republic in order to pay for his government and his luxurious lifestyle.

Trujillo described himself as the “benefactor” of his country. All homes were, to all intents and purposes, required to have a photo of the “benefactor” displayed, often adjacent to religious images such as crucifixes or portraits of the Virgin Mary. Dissent was not tolerated; individuals considered to be unloyal disappeared into the prisons of the country.

Still an opposition movement, inspired in part by the Castro’s success in Cuba, did develop. Three of most significant participants in that movement were four sisters – Minerva, Patria, Teresa, and Dedé Mirabel. The sisters came from the well-to-do class, the class which was traditionally most loyal to Trujillo because it profited from his regime. The activism of these young attractive women quickly made them folk heroes. Minerva was known to have resisted Trujillo’s sexual advances, something few Dominican women would have had the courage to do.

Both Minerva and Teresa were arrested for their involvement in revolutionary activity and tortured while in prison. Eventually three of the sisters (excluding Dedé) were assassinated on November 25—the day now recognized internationally as the Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The death of the Mirabel sisters proved to be the catalyst which resulted in Trujillo’s assassination in 1961. Then the Dominicans elected a moderate socialist, Juan Bosch, president; the United States reacted by occupying country for a second time. They then presided over democratic elections before departing. And to ensure that the Dominicans didn’t make the error of re-electing the socialist, the occupying forces gave their support to Joaquin Balaguer.

Balaguer had served under Trujillo in several functions and eventually, in 1960, became nominal president of the country, although he had little real power. After Trujillo’s assassination, Balaguer continued as president and made efforts to liberalize the government. But his changes were too radical for the former dictator’s supporters and too cautious for social activists. Consequently, he was unable to retain control of the government and was forced to surrender office in 1962. He was given asylum in the United States, where he remained until he was returned to the presidency after the American occupation of 1965.