STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS: DRIZZLE & FIZZLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000589

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR JROSHOLT, JTILGHMAN; INR/IAA RCARHART

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV NS
SUBJECT: STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS: DRIZZLE & FIZZLE

REF: A. (A) PARAMARIBO 585


B. (B) PARAMARIBO 586

C. (C) PARAMARIBO 176

PARAMARIBO 00000589 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: A student protest march organized on
November 9 by the Youth Collective Suriname (YCS) failed to
develop gravitas, but organizers can take some comfort from
knowing that, despite heavy rains, they were successful at
least in attracting about 300 student, reversing the trend of
the previous three marches toward dwindling numbers. The
march appeared better orchestrated than earlier attempts;
however, it failed to attract noticeable support beyond high
school students. END SUMMARY

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BRING ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES
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2. (SBU) As promised (Reftel A),the Youth Collective
Suriname (YCS) staged its fourth protest march in the past
week. Organizers called for all street vendors, the disabled,
the mentally challenged, ex-military, squatters, unions, and
the poor to join them. They also indicated that there would
be a "surprise element," raising speculation that opposition
leader Desi Bouterse himself might make an appearance in
support of the demonstrations. They also indicated they
would present a petition to the Embassy of the Netherlands.
The Charge called the the Dutch Embassy on November 8 to get
their views on the protests. On the morning of November 9,
the Charge, A/DCM, RSO and MGT met and developed a
contingency plan in the event demonstrators approached the
U.S. Embassy. (They did not.)

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DRIZZLE, THEN FIZZLE
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3. (U) Having obtained the appropriate permit from the
Police, the YCS began to congregate at a public plaza several
blocks from the Embassy between 8:00 and 10:00 am. At 9:00
am the heavens erupted in thunder and heavy rains that
drenched the participants -- and the brass band that had been
invited to join them. At about 10:00 am, march organizers,
clearly identified by their bright red and yellow reflective
vests, shepherded participants along the parade route, which
passed a half block away from the Embassy, to the main
West-East roadway, and toward downtown Paramaribo. EmbOffs
watched from the fourth floor of the Chancery as a splinter
group of about 30 youth bolted from the main pack and entered
the compound of a public high school directly across from the
Embassy. When their efforts to coax, cajole, and taunt
students to join them failed to win any converts, they left,
following a different route than the main pack. Police had
promised to intervene with the Riot Squad if schools were
stormed, but no police were on hand to evict the protestors.
In general, Police have kept their cool and kept the marchers
on course.


4. (SBU) By the time the main pack reached the Dutch
Embassy about a mile across town, the numbers had dwindled to
about 150 (Dutch Embassy estimate) and had taken on the tone
of a school outing. The Dutch Second Secretary went out to
the Embassy gate and received a petition while the students
sang a "youth song," followed by the Dutch national anthem
(no doubt a welcome break from the "Dutch-bashing" often
associated with protests in Suriname). The petition called
for task forces on youth and education, a repeal of the
recent tuition increase, and an anti-corruption code.


5. (U) The marchers then proceeded to Office of the
President. When word came down that President Venetiaan
would not meet with them, the marchers continued down the
road and disbanded. Organizers have announced another
protest for Tuesday, November 13.

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MINIMAL IMPACT
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6. (SBU) While the organizers can take heart from a better
turnout than the previous two marches, they have yet to
develop any serious or broad-based support: none of the
groups that the YCS called out to participate joined them,
and today's marchers were almost exclusively high school
students and a few adults (perhaps parents). The organizers
themselves do appear to be more organized, even if they are
unable to generate gravitas. For example, this was the first
of the four marches where adults with safety vests shepherded

PARAMARIBO 00000589 002.2 OF 002


the students and kept them out of traffic. The YCS also said
they were sending organizers to Nieuw Nickerie in Suriname's
westernmost department to broaden the scope of protest. No
reliable information is available on the outcome of that
effort as of the drafting of this cable. Nonetheless, the
poor turnout in Paramaribo reflects the lack of focus of the
YCS objectives, as well as an underlying public skepticism on
the political motives behind the protests.

Genton

GENTON