Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARAMARIBO705
2006-11-03 15:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:
PARAMARIBO NONCOMMITTAL ON UN DECLARATION ON THE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHPO #0705 3071504 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 031504Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8868 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0485 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1450 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1583 RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 2014 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ NOV LIMA 0037 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0028
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000705
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR LAURA LUFTIG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN NS
SUBJECT: PARAMARIBO NONCOMMITTAL ON UN DECLARATION ON THE
RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: STATE 169257
Classified By: Ambassador Schreiber Hughes for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000705
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR LAURA LUFTIG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN NS
SUBJECT: PARAMARIBO NONCOMMITTAL ON UN DECLARATION ON THE
RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: STATE 169257
Classified By: Ambassador Schreiber Hughes for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY Per reftel, post delivered message and
non-papers regarding the UN declaration on the rights of
indigenous peoples to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Government of Suriname showed interest and concern and said
it would share a position paper, which we have not yet
received. Post will inform the Department of any further
response from the GOS. END SUMMARY
2. (C) PofOff spoke with MFA in person in mid October and
again on November 1. On both occasions GOS MFA Head of the
Americas Division Terence Craig made clear that indigenous
groups and non-governmental organizations cause trouble for
the GOS by making demands. On the first visit Craig promised
to look into the issue, and on the second he promised a short
position paper. On the second visit Craig added that the GOS
wants to come to a joint position together with other members
of "ATCO," the Organization of the Treaty for Amazon
Cooperation (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana,
Peru, Suriname, Venezuela),and through the UN. NOTE: ATCO
met in Suriname on October 31 and November 1; Craig said GOS
candidate Jan Tawgoeram, who is indigenous, was elected as
Coordinator for Indigenous Affairs within ATCO. END NOTE
3. (C) COMMENT Craig and his colleagues nodded in sympathy
with many points against the DRIP, especially those which
refer to the possibility of indigenous groups extrapolating
inferred rights from the terms of the DRIP. The MFA is
controlled by the largest coalition partner, the Creole-based
"National Party of Suriname," and has struggled repeatedly
with Maroon-based coalition partner "A-Combination" over land
rights and other issues (Maroons are descendents of escaped
slaves living in the interior, and consider themselves
indigenous). However, any policy which Suriname arrives at
will likely have to be approved by coalition partners,
leaving final GOS position on the DRIP uncertain. Meanwhile,
using ATCO and the UN as policy shields is consistent with
GOS preference to frame--or avoid responsibility for--its
international policy by defining it in multilateral terms.
END COMMENT
SCHREIBER HUGHES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR LAURA LUFTIG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN NS
SUBJECT: PARAMARIBO NONCOMMITTAL ON UN DECLARATION ON THE
RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: STATE 169257
Classified By: Ambassador Schreiber Hughes for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY Per reftel, post delivered message and
non-papers regarding the UN declaration on the rights of
indigenous peoples to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Government of Suriname showed interest and concern and said
it would share a position paper, which we have not yet
received. Post will inform the Department of any further
response from the GOS. END SUMMARY
2. (C) PofOff spoke with MFA in person in mid October and
again on November 1. On both occasions GOS MFA Head of the
Americas Division Terence Craig made clear that indigenous
groups and non-governmental organizations cause trouble for
the GOS by making demands. On the first visit Craig promised
to look into the issue, and on the second he promised a short
position paper. On the second visit Craig added that the GOS
wants to come to a joint position together with other members
of "ATCO," the Organization of the Treaty for Amazon
Cooperation (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana,
Peru, Suriname, Venezuela),and through the UN. NOTE: ATCO
met in Suriname on October 31 and November 1; Craig said GOS
candidate Jan Tawgoeram, who is indigenous, was elected as
Coordinator for Indigenous Affairs within ATCO. END NOTE
3. (C) COMMENT Craig and his colleagues nodded in sympathy
with many points against the DRIP, especially those which
refer to the possibility of indigenous groups extrapolating
inferred rights from the terms of the DRIP. The MFA is
controlled by the largest coalition partner, the Creole-based
"National Party of Suriname," and has struggled repeatedly
with Maroon-based coalition partner "A-Combination" over land
rights and other issues (Maroons are descendents of escaped
slaves living in the interior, and consider themselves
indigenous). However, any policy which Suriname arrives at
will likely have to be approved by coalition partners,
leaving final GOS position on the DRIP uncertain. Meanwhile,
using ATCO and the UN as policy shields is consistent with
GOS preference to frame--or avoid responsibility for--its
international policy by defining it in multilateral terms.
END COMMENT
SCHREIBER HUGHES