Operation Power Pack Volume 1 Latin America@War #49 - Military History Book

In 1965 rival factions within the Dominican Republic vied for control of the nation. The so-called Loyalist faction sought to uphold rule by conservative traditionalists; the Constitutionalists, including some left-wing elements, sought to return the Dominican Republic to democratic processes. As conflict between the parties erupted into open warfare the US launched a military intervention.

The Dominican Republic had a long and troubled history and a difficult relationship with democracy. Following an occupation by the US military in the early twentieth century, Rafael Trujillo controlled the country as president, or through his sons and proxies, until his assassination in 1961. On 27 February 1963, Juan Emilio Bosch Gavi?o, the first democratically elected president of the Dominican Republic, was sworn into office, only to be toppled by a military coup in September of the same year and replaced by Donald Reid Cabral. Reid failed to attract popular support and several factions became involved in a power struggle. The so-called Lealistas (Loyalists), headed by Generals Pedro Benoit and Antonio Imbert, aimed to uphold a military dictatorship. The Constitutionalistas (Constitutionalists),headed by General Francisco Caama?o, and allied with the Dominican Revolutionary Party, supported Bosch.

In April 1965, three junior officers demanded a meeting with President Reid. When he refused, and sent Chief of Staff Riviera Cuesta instead, the latter was arrested. A group of constitutionalists from within the military then seized Radio Santo Domingo and issued calls for sedition, prompting several units to defect and abandon their position, while other officers began distributing arms to their civilian sympathisers.