Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Suriname president warns against ethnic clashes

Thursday, October 5, 2006

by: Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Suriname president Ronald Venetiaan in his annual budget address in parliament on Monday warned against possible ethnic violence in Suriname. According to the Head of State there are signs of promoting ethnic rallying which could ultimately result in an ethnic divided community and a disruption of brotherly atmosphere in Suriname.

He further noticed that there is a campaign based on generalisation going on in society against immigrants and tourists from one specific part of the world, hinting at China. Within the community there is growing criticism of the seemingly unstoppable arrival of Chinese immigrants and establishment of supermarkets, hardware stores and other businesses owned by these immigrants.

Venetiaan stressed that he is especially concerned that the international clashes of cultures combined with the national tendencies of ethnic differentiation could result in tension which would affect the mark of a peaceful society.

The government therefore has the responsibility to guard the nation against the threats from the outside world and possibly from within. “The dark depths of certain national powers are coming our way,” said Venetiaan.

He further noted that there are more and more symptoms and signals internationally which call for vigilance. “The symptoms and signals we receive from abroad are dramatically clear and are about verbal violence, mutual discrimination of religious groups, terrorist attacks and war,” said the Head of State.

In his address to the National Assembly, president Venetiaan also noted that his government will continue to lead Surinamese people to find a safe passage “in the contemporary world with all its danger as a result of international developments regarding economic and political power play, military aggression and terrorism and not in the least issues such as transnational crime, HIV/AIDS and natural disasters”.

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