Suriname Opposition informs OAS observers of voters’ list irregularities
by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Political parties in
Suriname have expressed concern that the outcome of the May 25 general
elections could be tainted. Five opposition parties on Monday had a meeting
with the observer mission of the Organization of American States (OAS), which
is led by Trinidad diplomat, Ambassador Corinne McKnight.
The parties voiced their worries about the
organization of the elections since they did not get a satisfactory answer on
their concerns from the Independent Electoral Bureau (OKB). The OKB which
oversees the elections, on May 2 wrote President Ronald Venetiaan a letter to
inform him about 29,318 persons too many in the voters’ lists, and asked the
president to clarify this issue.
A dispute followed between the OKB on one
hand and the Ministry of Interior Affairs and other electoral institutions on
the other, since the OKB stated that there were too many voters and the other
institutions insisted there was nothing wrong.
In a letter to the OAS mission the opposition said it is “remarkable that the
irregularities on the voters’ lists were in the districts where the numbers of
followers of the opposition parties are significant”. In the meeting with the
OAS officials it was agreed that as soon as irregularities are discovered on
the day of the polls, this should be brought to the attention of the
observers. The OAS officials in the coming days will discuss this matter with
the authorities. In a meeting with the press
Saturday the opposition noted that they just want free and fair elections and
with the many irregularities with the voters’ list and distribution of voters’
cards there is no guarantee that will happen. Among other things it seems that
people who are not eligible to vote, like persons who do not have Surinamese
nationality and minors, are on the list.
Also voters’ cards were produced for people
who are dead or for many years living abroad and also there were problems with
addresses that don’t exist or voters registered in the one district were put
on the list from another district.
According to opposition leaders the parties
went straight to an international body because there are no possibilities in
the electoral laws to address these issues in court. Legally the voters’ lists
are already closed without any chance for adjustments.
According to president and coalition leader
Venetiaan, there is nothing wrong with the voters’ lists. The opposition is
just looking for a reason to blame their defeat after the election, the
coalition leader noted at a rally last Thursday. He is not in the least
concerned that the opposition will address the international organization on
the alleged irregularities.
Over the weekend former president Jules
Wijdenbosch reiterated his threat to take to the streets with followers if the
voters’ list issue is not solved before elections day. “Not to dismiss the
government, but to guarantee free and fair election,” the former president and
presidential candidate for the People’s Alliance for Prosperity (VVV) said.
On May 25 Suriname will elect a new
parliament and districts and provincial councils. The new assembly will
subsequently elect the president. If parliament in two sessions cannot elect
the president and the vice-president with a 2/3 majority, the Joint People’s
Assembly, composed of parliament and districts and provincial councils will do
so with a simple majority in one session.
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