Organizers of protests to drag State to court

The organizers of the recent protests will reportedly drag the State to court over restrictions that were added to the permit. Union Chairman Robby Berenstein pointed out that every Surinamese citizen has the right to protest. The organization deems the decision to scrap the Independence Square from the route as a violation of the constitutional right to hold peaceful protests. The permit also clearly states that the protestors are not allowed to insult the government. Meanwhile the organization will also hold a protest in the Nickerie District.

The leaders of Tuesday’s protest were escorted to Parliament while the protestors and the sound truck stayed behind near the Central Bank of Suriname. The leaders complained to the chairwoman of Parliament, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, about the restrictions and the procedures that follow after a permit has been requested. The organizers explained to the chairwoman that the official who granted the permit, Paramaribo North East District Commissioner Mike Nerkust, did not take their wishes into account. Geerlings-Simons reportedly received a copy of a letter that was sent to President Desi Bouterse. In the letter the leaders ask the president to take corrective measures. The protestors made it clear that they expect Parliament to make sure that they can exercise their constitutional right without any restrictions. Wilgo Valies, chairman of the Teachers’ Association (BvL) and the Alliance for Teachers in Suriname (ALS), who also attended Tuesday’s protest made it clear that the nation is leaning towards poverty as a result of the fuel price hike. The protestors want the government to scrap the fuel price hike but according to Valies the government is not listening to the complaints from the people. Geerlings-Simons pointed out that she would contact the government to get some answers. Referring to the fuel price hike the chairwoman pointed out that the government took a step which many leaders do not agree with but that “we must keep talking.” “If we do not talk, I fear that we will end up like all those times when the country was in chaos and a new government came into office but the fundamental problems of the country were not solved. That must stop now. Berenstein made it clear to the chairwoman that the communication lines are always open but that the labor unions want to commence talks with the government under one condition which is that the fuel price hike must be scrapped.