The Long Wait

The twelve leftist rebel leaders had flown off to their new "diplomatic" posts abroad, as ordered by President Hector Garcia-Godoy. And all last week Dominicans waited for the country's right-wing military leaders to follow suit. And waited. And waited. And waited.

The diplomatic assignments were Garcia-Godoy's way of getting the leaders of both military factions out of the country and giving the hottest tempers on the island time to cool. The rebel departure alone seemed to help. Last week nightly shootings, bombings and other terrorism tapered off, and a leftist-called general strike fizzled even before it began.

All through the week, however, Loyalist Leader Commodore Francisco Rivera Caminero, who had been assigned to Washington as naval attache, said only that he would "consider" Garcia-Godoy's demand. Then Rivera, with his designated replacement, Commodore Emilio Jimenez, paid a call on Garcia-Godoy. After 90 minutes, the three strolled out of the President's office, beaming and calling the meeting "very cordial and warm." With that, Rivera went off for talks with his lieutenants. Would he leave the country or wouldn't he? Closest to a hint was word that Rivera had sold his dog.

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