Explain what happened on the night Lio went into hiding. What does this indicate about the political climate in the Dominican Republic?

Lio is a revolutionary. He is a teacher at the university who becomes involved with Minerva. Both share revolutionary interests. When Lio's friend mysteriously dies, Lio knows his anti-government actions might claim his life next. Lio plans to leave the country and sends a letter with Dede inviting her to join him. Dede burns the letter. Certainly this shows that the Trujillo regime wastes no time in finding and killing anybody that does not share their "values". Any opposition is in great danger.