French authorities allowed to enter Suriname 2 km inland

38 legislators on Tuesday voted in favor of ratifying the border agreement with France. The border agreement clearly states that Surinamese and French police units are allowed to enter each other’s territory as far as 2 kilometers inland during joint operations. French security forces took firm action against Surinamese citizens in the past so parliament adapted the ratifying document to demand certain protocols aimed at preventing excesses in the future. The protocols must clearly state how the joint operations must be conducted. Parliament deemed it necessary to include these additional safety valves in the document in order to guarantee the equality especially given the fact that France is a super power in the world. French officers are not allowed to actively participate in operations that are conducted on Surinamese soil but they may only observe. They may only use their weapons in self defense. The same goes for Surinamese police officers on French soil. After fierce comments from all of the legislators from the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) and several legislators from the National Democratic Party (NDP), it was decided to include a special clause in the document aimed at informing the villagers who live within a 2 kilometer radius of the Marowijne River of the border agreement with France and the objectives of the border agreement. MP Aida Nading (NDP) from the Sipaliwini District and MP Grace Watamaleo (NDP) from the Marowijne District voted in favor of the document after having placed some critical comments. MP Nading pointed out that there have been incidents where the gendarmerie destroyed the property of Surinamese citizens in the hinterland. She also claimed that boats were towed to French Guyana before being put ablaze. The general opinion of parliament and the government is that the agreement restricts the actions of the French authorities.