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SANTO DOMINGO.- Last week’s attempted bribe of Industry and Commerce minister Melanio Paredes was confirmed today, but the official said he wouldn’t comment on the scandal, that has “unleashed pandemonium.”

On Monday, the head of the fuel truckers union, Clemente Morillo, distanced his organization from the attempted bribe and challenged the official to publicly name the person. “We, as workers don’t even know how to count to one million, not even the verdict that says we must pay 100,000 pesos daily concern us because we don’t have that kind of money.”

Newspaper El National revealed Sunday that Paredes was offered RD$25 million to issue a resolution against the company Chevron-Texaco, involved in a conflict with the fuel truckers.

Today El Nacional said its source confirmed the information and noted that Sunday’s revelation “unleashed pandemonium” and diverse conjectures, some of which even question the information’s veracity.

This newspaper today tried to obtain a confirmation from the lawyer Walls, but the civil servant, through his spokesman Perfecto Martinez, said that he would not express any opinion on that individual.

According to the source, emissaries of the unions in the conflict visited Paredes in an unspecified date and offered RD$25 million to issue a resolution against the Chevron to tip the balance in their favor. “That’s disrespectful, it’s an immorality; I’am here to defend the best just that favor a sector or a person in particular,” was Paredes’ response, according to the source.

Another union, the Independent Fuel Truck Drivers, support Morillo’s group in the conflict between Chevron and the truck owners, who since June 9 block Texaco’s trucks from entering and filling at the refinery.

Paredes reportedly called the offer an insult and expelled from his office those who made it.

Since the start it was reported that the conflict has strange characteristics, because the ones really affected by Chevron’s decision to modify contracts are the truck owners, although it’s their drivers who’ve waged the fight.
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COMMENTS
19 comment(s)
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jul 2008 4:41 PM
From: United States Virgin Islands, Christiansted.from the bar at the Comanche
Send these guys to the the same jail as the bankers...Make an example of these dirt bags who hold the future of the country ransom for their own selfish interests...and send the communist stooge bootlicker with them
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Written by: anthonyC, 21 Jul 2008 5:42 PM
From: United States
Waiting for Bellyach, SissyColumbus or any of the other "Liberals" to talk their way out of this one.
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Written by: PuntaCanaMike, 21 Jul 2008 6:20 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Quote ...."We, as workers don’t even know how to count to one million".....does not say much for the education level of these guys playing the high stakes game.
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Written by: Belial, 21 Jul 2008 6:36 PM
From: United States, Texas

Using customary bourgeois lies, the Industry and Commerce minister Melanio Paredes is trying to set up the workers.

Melanio Paredes' lies are consistent with unjust and reactionary court ruling ordering the workers to pay 100,000 a day for the mere defense of their labor rights.

Lamentably, it seems LF chose to go with the Chevron against the workers and to exalt CAFTA over Dominican law and over his own executive power.
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Written by: Belial, 21 Jul 2008 6:41 PM
From: United States, Texas

The bourgeoisie ... Chevron and its friends ... may to be on the verge of a win with the assist of the bourgeois state.

So, the pro-capitalist slime and swine in the bleachers are dancing, singing, and cheering.
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jul 2008 6:52 PM
From: United States Virgin Islands, Christiansted.from the bar at the Comanche
Hooray hooray let the bells ring out we kicked their socialist butts
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Written by: pappabowie, 21 Jul 2008 7:36 PM
From: Afghanistan, BAF
why not just burn them out ? are they not trespassing ?
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Written by: ladronaso, 21 Jul 2008 10:11 PM
From: United States
DT reported " Paredes reportedly called the offer an insult and expelled from his office those who made it. "

I guess 25M is not his price. I'm sure had they offered 2-3-4 Million US he would have gave it more consideration. Every Dominican In power has a price.
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Written by: anthonyC, 21 Jul 2008 10:47 PM
From: United States
Belail

You do realize you exist here because of Capitalism don't you?
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Written by: TexasBill, 22 Jul 2008 10:27 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Belial you seem to ignore that even "capitalist scum" have rights.
Your so-called "workers" demands notwithstanding, Chevron, Et Al has the right to choose whom they wish to transport their product to whomever they choose at anytime.
That's called "FREEDOM OF CHOICE".
Something which you obviously DON'T SUPPORT and neither does the system you advocate.
All your rhetoric won't change that attitude, and THAT is what we ALL fight against.
Your very words indicate that life under the system you support would be one of complete subjugation and forced actions by the police authority assumed by the State.
In a practical sense, I have faith that people would reject such authority, given a choice, which is denied them by the type of State you support.
Think about what you write before going off the deep end and choose your words carefully

TB
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 22 Jul 2008 10:41 AM
From: United States Virgin Islands, Christiansted.from the bar at the Comanche
That goes double for the rest of us Bourgies ....Nyah Nyah Nyah
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Written by: dreadlocks, 22 Jul 2008 11:40 AM
From: United States
right on, ladronaso. 25 million pesos was an ïnsult¨the truckers should have come up with a more substantial offer, one he could not refuse. to him, 25 million pesos is chump change.
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Written by: ladronaso, 23 Jul 2008 12:45 PM
From: United States
Regarding: dreadlocks, 22 Jul 2008 11:40 AM

True, especially when you consider the parties involved. I imagine he (Paredes) was anticipating a more convincing proposal.
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Written by: dreadlocks, 24 Jul 2008 11:30 AM
From: United States
ladronaso; the term ¨convincing proposal¨, as used by you here, will go down as the euphemism of the year. keep up the good stuff, my friend.
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 24 Jul 2008 11:40 AM
From: United States Virgin Islands, Christiansted.from the bar at the Comanche
Quit polishing the apple dread
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Written by: dreadlocks, 24 Jul 2008 12:46 PM
From: United States
ladronaso is a good apple to polish; his remarks are never insane, and that is a good thing!
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Written by: dreadlocks, 24 Jul 2008 12:48 PM
From: United States
besides, Goulet, stop feeling neglected. on the odd occasion you get your apple polished too( or should i say you get your knob burnished?)
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 24 Jul 2008 1:07 PM
From: United States Virgin Islands, Christiansted.from the bar at the Comanche
not as often as it used to be....But thats what they say about nostalgia.....It aint what it used to be
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Written by: dreadlocks, 24 Jul 2008 1:10 PM
From: United States
or, as Yogi Berra would say, ¨the future is not what it used to be¨.
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