BOUTERSE CONDEMNS TRIAL, SEEKS ROLE FOR HIS PARTY IN GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000789



SIPDIS



SIPDIS



SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED



DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - LLUFTIG

DEPT FOR INL/LP - JCROOK, KBROWN

CARACAS FOR LEGATT



E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KCRM, SNAR, PGOV, PREL, NS

SUBJECT: BOUTERSE CONDEMNS TRIAL, SEEKS ROLE FOR HIS PARTY IN

GOVERNMENT



REF: (A) PARAMARIBO 788, (B) PARAMARIBO 404, (C) PARAMARIBO 286



PARAMARIBO 00000789 001.2 OF 002





1. (U) Summary. On December 9 Desi Bouterse, Suriname's former

military dictator, was re-elected as chairman of his political

party, the National Democratic Party (NDP) (ref A). Hundreds of

supporters attended the meeting held to celebrate Bouterse's

victory. He used the opportunity to lash out at President Venetiaan

and his government, calling for replacement of Venetiaan's Ministers

with a "national cabinet" to include the NDP. In addition, with the

24th anniversary of the December 1982 murders as a backdrop,

Bouterse argued that a truth and reconciliation commission would be

the best way to deal with the lingering issue of bringing those

responsible to justice. Indications of a possible budding alliance

between Bouterse and controversial Speaker of Parliament Paul

Somohardjo could lead to more tension and fragmentation within the

already weak government coalition. End Summary.





-------------- --------------

Lively and charismatic, Bouterse shows his populist touch

-------------- --------------



2. (U) To celebrate his re-election as chairman of the NDP,

Suriname's biggest political party, Desi Bouterse spoke before a

large crowd of supporters in the NDP's party center. Hundreds of

gathered supporters cheered loudly when the former military

strongman appeared on the podium for his speech, and showed their

admiration and approval numerous times during his hour-long one man

show in which he joked, laughed, and sometimes danced on the stage.





--------------

Bouterse asks for a role for his party

--------------



3. (U) Bouterse strongly criticized the economic and social policies

of the Venetiaan government and claimed that more than "78% of the

population lives below the poverty line" because of mismanagement by

Venetiaan and his Ministers. Bouterse termed the ruling coalition "a

shameless gang of thieves" and stated, "President Venetiaan is

leading one of the most corrupt countries in the world." Bouterse

referred to the corruption scandals which surfaced in 2005 at the

Ministries of Public Works and of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal

Husbandry (ref B) and alleged corruptive practices regarding land

distribution policy. The NDP chairman said that Venetiaan's

eight-party coalition is fragmented, and characterized by

infighting, where narrow party interests trump national interests.

He said the coalition is incapable of properly managing the country,

and offered his party's expertise and experience in calling for a

"national cabinet" to replace the current Ministers.



--------------

Not afraid of his past...

--------------



4. (U) The former military dictator spoke extensively on the

December 1982 murders, which were widely commemorated in Suriname

the day before Bouterse spoke. The year 2006 marks the 24th

anniversary of the execution by the Bouterse military regime of

fifteen prominent Bouterse opponents; the media published articles

on the topic, and a church service was held in memory of those who

died. Bouterse reiterated his stand that even though he was not

present at the scene of the crime, he does accept political

responsibility because he was de-facto head of state.



--------------

...but doesn't want to go on trial for it

--------------



5. (U) Bouterse accused the Venetiaan government of politicizing the

December murders and claimed that the sole reason for starting the

trial was to eliminate him as a political opponent. Unlike on

previous occasions, when he threatened Minister of Justice and

Police Chandrikapersad Santokhi and Attorney General Subhas Punwasi,

this time Bouterse called for the establishment of a truth and

reconciliation commission in lieu of dealing with the murders in

court, which he characterized as a waste of time and resources. He

warned Santokhi, whom he consistently referred to as "The Sheriff"

(Santokhi's local nickname),that a trial would generate "bad karma"

and would only cause more problems for Suriname.



--------------

Somohardjo possible ally?

--------------



PARAMARIBO 00000789 002.2 OF 002







6. (U) The NDP chairman commended Speaker of Parliament Paul

Somohardjo, nominal Bouterse political opponent as chairman of

coalition party Pertjaja Luhur, for his open-mindedness on the

December murders issue. A local daily reported on December 8 that

Somohardjo believes Bouterse and others involved in the December

murders should get amnesty from the government. Somohardjo has not

publicly confirmed any such sentiments. However, public opinion may

be running in Bouterse's favor: in a man on the street interview

published in the local daily "Dagblad Suriname" on December 11, five

of the eight people interviewed were of the opinion that the

December murders issue was dragging on for too long and that

Suriname should move on.



--------------

Comment

--------------



7. (SBU) One of the most noteworthy points in Bouterse's speech is

that he publicly commended Paul Somohardjo on his stance with regard

to the resolution of the December murders issue. Somohardjo, a

controversial figure in the ruling coalition often accused of

influence peddling (and convicted for violation of decency after

accusations of backstage sexual assault at a 2002 beauty pageant),

has been using the six seats he gained in the May 2005 elections to

remind the other coalition partners of the pivotal role his party

plays in keeping the unwieldy coalition together (ref C). Bouterse's

"backing" would give Somohardjo further leverage for this so-called

"black mail" policy. Following Bouterse's speech, rumors and press

reports surfaced again hinting that Somohardjo is hoping for early

elections--and would work together with Bouterse if it is to his

advantage. End Comment.



SCHREIBER HUGHES