National rally will be held in Grun Dyari

The opposition parties, the Progressive Reform Party (VHP), the National Party Suriname (NPS), Pertjajah Luhur (PL) and the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) have decided not to request a permit for the May 20 rally. VHP Chairman Chandrikapersad Santokhi told Times of Suriname that the opposition parties have decided to hold the national rally at the headquarters of the NPS namely Grun Dyari.

Santokhi pointed out that this location was selected because no permit will be needed from the district commissioner. Political parties have the right and the authority to hold meetings at their headquarters. The opposition parties also took logistics into account. They needed a location that can easily be reached by bus. MP Santokhi pointed out that the opposition parties had initially identified 5 locations. He wanted to have a politically neutral location for the national rally. “We had many hearings and concluded that all the neutral locations were being rejected when we applied for a permit.”

The opposition parties had initially opted for the Independence Square and then for Kerkplein. The VHP chairman pointed out that he had not received word yet on Monday regarding the request to rally at Kerkplein which is why no other request for other locations will be filed. He made it clear that the opposition parties have a joint security team that will safeguard the safety of the people.