NEW SOCIALIST PARTY ECHOES CHAVEZ, BOUTERSE

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000750

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - LLUFTIG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL NS

SUBJECT: NEW SOCIALIST PARTY ECHOES CHAVEZ, BOUTERSE


1. (U) SUMMARY: A new socialist party, the Forum for Socialism and
Democracy (ASD),announced its formation in Suriname. The party
expresses a populist leftist ideology and made ideological
references to Venezuela among other countries. Two of the party's
founders have strong ties to former military strongman Desi
Bouterse.
END SUMMARY

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Ideology
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2. (U) Slogans calling for changes in government policy and an end
to corruption, and the unveiling of a red flag with a black star
marked the establishment of the Forum for Socialism and Democracy
(ASD) on November 8. The founders referred to countries such as
Venezuela, Bolivia, and Chile, and called for a middle road between
socialism and capitalism, saying it is the only way forward for
Suriname. The party also made use of the Chavista phrase "new
wind." The five ASD founders said their party is people-centered and
will focus on poor and disadvantaged groups in Suriname. The ASD
called for structural political changes in Suriname and introduction
of a system where development and prosperity for the country is
realized through developmental projects carried out by neighborhood
communities - a scheme advocated by Desi Bouterse in the 1980's.

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Leadership and Background
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3. (U) The ASD was established by Satish Baldewsingh, Evert Tjon,
Imro Thompson, Raymond Overman, and Ludwich van Mullier. Noteworthy
is that two of the founders of the party, Ludwich van Mullier and
Evert Tjon, are close friends of Bouterse, Suriname's former
military strongman. In 1999, Tjon served as chairman of the
Committee "Hands off Suriname." In that capacity he lobbied the
Government of Suriname and the Parliament on numerous occasions to
cite Suriname's right to self-determination as the justification for
halting the Netherlands' investigations of Bouterse. Along with
investigating him for drug trafficking, the Netherlands pushed for
Bouterse's conviction in the case of the December 1982 murders of
fifteen opponents of his government.


4. (U) COMMENT: Party politics in Suriname have historically been
fluid, with frequent forming, splitting, merging, and morphing of
parties. In addition, due to disillusionment with the current
government and to Bouterse's tainting the opposition by his
membership in it, there are now calls in Suriname for entirely new
parties to take the stage. However, aside from being more overtly
socialist, the ASD's ideology closely aligns with that of Bouterse's
National Democratic Party, leaving little niche for the ASD to fill.
With 22 political parties already active, it is doubtful ASD will
find traction by the elections in 2010. END COMMENT

Schreiber Hughes