The padi dispute that has rocked the rice district of Nickerie for the best part of two months now
is still not receiving the full attention of the Government and those responsible for settling it. The
actions that the farmers had started as a protest against the Government had to be called off to
give the VRE a chance to hold discussions with the Government about a favourable solution but
to all appearances it now looks as though the actions will have to be resumed and brought to the
city, because now, 10 days later there has still not been any response from the Government to
meet with the VRE. In the meanwhile the women from the rice district have started their own
manner of protestation and have gone on a protest march through the streets of Nickerie beating
on pots and pans to draw the attention of others, in this way supporting the farmers.
The order to evacuate the President of the Court's room was given by the Ministry of Justice after
the newly appointed President had informed them that after two unsuccessful attempts by letter to
the Acting President John von Niessewand to receive the keys to the office, and since he would
like to begin his job, he would like to move into his office. Though the Ministry takes
responsibility for the evacuation , it has not mentioned the CID's part in it, and the leading
opposition parties would prefer to believe that the order came directly from the President since he
is the only person from whom this group receives its orders. This matter has created quite a stir in
the Suriname society.Disapprovement of the manner in which this was done could be heard
everywhere. The Sibibusi and the OGV have also announced their displeasure in what the OGV is
reported to have said was a shocking and brutal display by the CID.
The last action of the CID is not to be tolerated by the opposition and the labor unions. These two
groups have found a few more to join with them and have together decided to hold a national
protest demonstration on Tuesday to make their disapproval heard of the manner in which the
CID had evacuated the rooms of the Acting-President of the Court, Mr john von Nissewand. Fred
Derby announced this at a press conference held by the opposition parties. Derby declared that the
opposition will see to it that the following International Organizations the OAS, the RIO
GROUP,the NAM, the UN and the CARICOM be informed by letter about this matter. Ex-President and leader of the NPS Ronald Venetiaan stated that the order for evacuation could only
have come from the President because no one else could give this group orders. According to
Venetiaan this kind of situation cannot be tolerated if we still want to continue calling Suriname a
constitutional state. Venetiaan added that this type of action sends out a clear message that the
government will use force to get its own way. A letter will also be sent to Ms Marijke
Djawalapersaud, the Chairman of the National Assembly , asking her to call a meeting of the
Assembly to discuss this matter.
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