Dominican President Makes Changes in Army
Dominican President Leonel Fernandez appointed a new Army deputy chief, retired five Army generals, dismissed five senior police officers and discharged a similar proportion, a government spokesman informed Saturday.

Leonel Fernandez issued a decree to remove Army deputy chief, Major General Luis Mariano Rodriguez Martinez, and designated General Aurelio A Lopez Lajara for the position.

He also retired Army General Francisco Radhames Mones Fernandez and Navy Rear-admirals Favio Andres Suarez Peña, Carlos E Espinosa Jimenez, Marcos Antonio de Jesus Antoine Peña and Rafael Julio Ortiz Castillo.

By another decree, he nominated General Vinicio Hernandez Mendez as National Police commissioner, replacing acting Major General Jose Luis Vinicio Dominguez, who was also dismissed.

Other high ranking military including brigadier generals, generals, colonels were discharged or retired by Fernandez, who has made this massive military changes three times since he became president.

Local media outlets say these changes demonstrated Fernandez´ willingness to clear the administration of corruption scandals for which it has lost credibility.

On August 2004, opening his second mandate, Fernandez withdrew 99 of 210 generals serving the Dominican Armed Forces.

Many Dominicans, who criticized the previous administration for the way it handled the military, have positively received the measure..