Discontent Indigenous villages exit VIDS to join OIS

SURINAMEThe Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs in Suriname (VIDS) has been significantly weakened due to the fact that several villages have exited the organization to join another one. Reports indicate that more than fifteen Indigenous villages have parted ways with the VIDS to join the Organization of the Indigenous in Suriname (OIS). Lesley Artist, village chief of Redi Doti, pointed out that several village chiefs wanted to establish a new organization but that they opted to join an existing one in order to prevent fragmentation. The supreme village chief of the Trio tribes has reportedly left the VIDS with all of his tribes and has already joined the OIS. The Wayanas from the Tapanahony region have also become members of the OIS but their fellow tribesmen from the Lawa still feel right at home at the VIDS. Artist explained that nearly 80 percent of the Amerindian villages located in the southern part of Suriname are no longer members of the VIDS. The dissatisfaction is the result of the difference of opinion between the new management team of the VIDS and the village chiefs who formed an alliance with Artist. Rumors suggest that the reason for the split is actually rotted in the political sphere. Artist was elected chairman of the VIDS in 2012 for a period of five years. At that time Artist was a legislator of the NDP. But the new managementteam at the VIDS which is chaired by Theo Jubitana reportedly is not eager to be cosy with the NDP. The way the land rights issue is being addressed was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The government reportedly opted for a course of action which was not approved by the VIDS. Some of the Amerindian villages, however, are on the same page as the government and therefore choose to remain members of the VIDS.