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

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Authorities in Suriname were informed at an early stage by foreign judicial authorities about the presence of alleged ‘hard core’ terrorist cells in Trinidad and Tobago, a government official here told media.

Minister of Justice and Police, Chandrikapersad Santokhi told ‘de Ware Tijd newspaper that intelligence sharing judicial agencies were informed over possible presence of ‘cells’ in Suriname and neighboring Guyana.

Since then security and intelligence agencies in the country have been on higher alert, but so far no “terrorist cells or Muslim extremist cells” have been identified Santokhi was quoted as saying by the newspaper Thursday.

The official noted, however, that several criminal cells with links to foreign terrorist organisations were identified, referring to local drug gangs and the FARC in Colombia. So far the authorities here haven’t established any connection whatsoever with the criminal organisations here and any terrorist cells in Trinidad.

Responding to questions from the newspaper, Michel Soebhan, president of the Suriname Muslim Association (SMA) said that his organisation has no indication of Muslim fundamentalism or extremism in the country.

“Terrorism and terrorist acts don’t exist in Islam and we are strongly condemning these acts,” said the religious leader.

Mohamed Sobari, chairman of the Foundation of Islamic Societies in Suriname (SIS), has also indicated that within the Muslim community he hasn’t identified any form of radicalism. Sobari further noted that most imams received their training in Islamic countries, claiming that in these trainings fundamentalism is not being taught.

“Islam is peace and no extremism," said Sobari.

Several years ago, an Al Qaeda cell was alleged to exist in Suriname. However, it was eventually established that a religious leader in the Saramacca district had named his mosque Al-Qaeda, which according to Soebhan is Arabic synonymous for ‘movement’.

His organisation then launched an investigation but didn’t find any wrongdoing or threat, after personnel of the US embassy in Suriname happened upon the Al Qaeda mosque in Saramacca.

Currently the ministry of Justice is drafting an Anti-Terrorism Bill which will shortly be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval.