(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO — The government of Suriname will have to defend itself again before the Inter-America Court for Human Rights (IACHR).
Amerindian villages near Albina complain the government violates their human rights. The case was submitted in 2007, and since Paramaribo failed to deal with the recommendations the human rights commissions ordered the court to start proceedings.
Eight villages, including Pierekondre, Langaman-kondre, Christiaankondre and Erowarte instructed the organizations Kaliña and Lokono from the Lower Marowijne region to submit the case at IACHR.
Romeo Pierre is enthusiastic with the progress made so far. OAS Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, says the case is now before the court, which will apply a similar method as in the Moiwana and Saamaka cases. Martin Misiedjan, presidential commissioner on land issues, admits the government has not complied with the OAS recommendations, but he argues the three-months deadline was too short, despite an additional three months had been granted.
The Amerindians demand collective ownership, protection of their rights to a traditional territory and reassessment of land titles awarded by third parties by the government. Establishing collective ownership is not an easy issue Misiedjan claims. There are several consequences tied to issues for which there is currently no answer. The issue of creating legal system which is foreign to that of Suriname our is a risk.
Misiedjan says the OAS has been informed about this.
