A protest in neighbouring Suriname against the government’s decision to remove subsidies from fuel turned ugly as demonstrators stormed the Parliament Building in Paramaribo, leaving it in shambles.
President Chandrika-persad Santokhi’s office yesterday condemned the violence and promised that action will be taken against those who were culpable.
“The government attaches great importance to fundamental freedoms, including demonstration and protest, but these must take place in an orderly and peaceful manner. Escalation in illegal actions, such as smashing windows, theft and vandalism, is not acceptable. The leaders of these protests will also be summoned for questioning,” a statement from the government said.
“What we have seen today is far beyond the limits of the democratic rules… It is a serious threat to the rule of law in Suriname…There has been a serious breach of the rule of law and the democratic order,” the President said in a statement released around noon subsequent to the invasion of the Nation-al Assembly, Surinamese news outlet, dwtonline. com reported.
Last night, CARICOM also condemned the violence. Heads had been meeting in The Bahamas.
“CARICOM reaffirms its support for the democratically elected Government of Suriname under the leadership of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
“The Heads of Government took note of the unfolding situation in Suriname and strongly condemned the violent attacks on people as well as private and public facilities including the parliament. They recognized the right to freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful protest but expressed the view that there can be no excuse for the use of violence in any type of demonstration. They affirmed that these actions only serve to undermine the rule of law and the stability of democracies. Furthermore, they threaten the lives and livelihoods of our citizens and are inimical to the interest of our population.
“CARICOM stands in solidarity with all law abiding citizens of Suri-name and urges all concerned to make every effort to maintain public safety. All efforts must be made to restore calm as a matter of urgency”, the statement said.
Reports from Surina-mese news outlets said that the police were forced to use tear gas and fired warning shots in a bid to calm the crowd and have them disperse from the area.
The lobby of the National Assembly along with the glass windows and doors were destroyed as protestors hurled rocks and bottles at the building and police.
In the demonstration which was organised by activists and board member of the Party for Law and Development (PRO) Stefano ‘Pakittow’ Biervliet, protestors demanded the resignation of President Santokhi and Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk.
A special Task Force led by Public Prosecution Service has since been set up to locate, apprehend, and hand over to the judicial authorities as soon as possible, those responsible for these actions, Waterkant.net reported. Protestors apart from storming the National Assembly, also looted businesses and set fire to some sections of the city.
A man was hit in the lower leg by a police bullet during looting on Burenstraat, Waterkant.net also reported. After demonstrators realised the man was injured, they turned against the officer who fired. However, he was able to call for assistance quickly.
At the height of the protest, media workers covering the demonstration were also attacked.
Looting
A number of Chinese businessmen and workers were subjected to violence during the looting, with some sustaining serious injuries. They were taken to hospital for treatment. Demonstrators who confronted the police were also injured with at least two men suffering gunshot wounds.
Waterkant.net in a report stated that the truck carrying the sound system to be used by organisers to get their message out was shot at by police. The riot police had formed a line together with soldiers to prevent demonstrators from getting to the Cabinet. The sound truck tried to force its way through prompting the military to open fire on the vehicle. According to the report the truck tires were shot flat, while the driver of the truck jumped out and fled.
Those demonstrators who started throwing stones were dispersed by riot police and soldiers and the street was cleared. Everyone was removed from the sound truck and the demonstrators were ordered to leave the area by order of the armed forces.
National Democratic Party Assembly member, Ebu Jones, who was standing there at the time and did not follow the orders to leave, was also forcibly removed.
According to dwtonline.com, the police have since imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew in the capital.
“The entire city centre will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m … until further notice. “Society is asked to take the above into account and not to go out on the street during the time. Please stay at home as much as possible!!!!” the report said.
In the meantime, government has also called on businesses to stay closed on Saturday. The call was made for prevention and safety reasons. The government also announced that public markets will be closed. “We will do everything we can to restore calm during this period, but also to hold those responsible for the unrest to account,” the Head of State said.
In the coming hours and days, all army and police units will be deployed to protect society, the rule of law and democracy, Santokhi assured, according to dwtonline.com. He called on the people not to participate in anarchy and destruction of the country and not to allow themselves to be used by individuals and groups who have other agendas.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), international missions and diplomatic posts have been informed about Friday’s events, “but we as a country are responsible for ensuring that order and peace are restored,” the president stated in the news report.
Smallest party
The protests have come in the same week that the National Party of Suriname (NPS), the smallest party in government, left the ruling coalition, citing disagreements over poverty and social policies, Reuters said.
Suriname, with a population of 610,000, has reported an inflation rate of 54.6% for 2022.
Dwtonline.com reported that the party believed that the cost-increasing measures implemented by the government make life more unbearable for citizens. NPS chairman, Gregory Russia, said during a press conference that the party does not feel that the situation will change during the remaining term of office or that it could make a substantial contribution to policy.
In a rebuttal, Vice President (VP) Brunswijk stated that when the government took over power in July 2020, it was confronted with problems on almost all fronts of social life that urgently required a solution. According to him, the government has searched nationally and internationally for workable solution models to free the country and people from the social low point into which Suriname has ended up over the years.
The Surinamese coalition faced with the challenges, turned to the International Monetary Fund for support in the implementation of its recovery programme. “The government is determined to use the program to save this people from destruction. In the interest of this, we have to crack a nut, especially in the phasing out of property subsidies.”
According to the VP, this will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the cost of living, but at the same time the government will provide support for the weak in society. By means of a well-developed system of subject subsidy “we want to identify and meet the weak families,” dwtonline.com reported.
Against the background of current developments, Brunswijk characterised the living conditions of the people in the interior as unsustainable. “Because in addition to the increase in the cost of living, the transport costs in the hinterland are becoming unaffordable.”
Hours after the chaotic protest action, the NPS and the Progressive Reform Party (VHP), political parties in the country denounced the attack on the National Assembly, the highest Council of State.
NPS in its criticism on the direct attack of the National Assembly, said it was an attack on democracy and the rule of law. They said that while everyone has the right to express their right to freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate they were horrified to learn of the excesses of the demonstrations.
“It can be different from what is happening now. Let us as Surinamese put our love for the country first and not be a party to the deterioration of the current situation. The NPS calls on the activists to respect law and justice under all circumstances,” the party said.
Meanwhile, the VPH while calling on the community to calm down, opined the actions of the protest have been directed from a certain angle with the sole purpose of destabilising the country.
“It is very clear that a scenario was written in advance, how the protest actions had to be carried out in order to cause as much damage as possible to property and thus destabilize the country and plunge it into chaos. The cowardly rioters have come prepared with one purpose and that is to create chaos in view of the stones and bottles they brought with them,” it said in a Suriname Herald report last night.
The VPH also urged the government to take tough measures against people who are guilty of vandalism and looting in the city centre.
“We trust that the government will do everything possible to ensure that the rule of law is safeguarded.”
The US Government has also condemned the action by demonstrators, The Suriname Herald reported. “We support the right to peaceful protest and respect for the rule of law,” said a statement from the US embassy in Paramaribo. The United States assures that it remains committed to helping Suriname strengthen its democratic institutions.
