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

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Security units in SUriname have arrested and detained several alleged assassins, a top government official has disclosed. Justice Minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi informed reporters Wednesday that police had two weeks earlier busted a criminal gang linked to murder accused and former army commander Desi Bouterse. Amongst those detained were several foreign nationals.

According to the minister, the sting operation came after security agencies received intelligence over assassination plots against several government and judicial authorities. Santokhi further disclosed that the attacks were aimed at derailing the trial of the so-called ‘December murders’ scheduled to start on Friday, November 30. Bouterse is the main suspect in this trial for the killing of 15 of his political opponents in December 1982.

Minister of Justice, Chandrikapersad Santokhi

Authorities have intercepted a target list including the names of President Ronald Venetiaan, the Minister of Justice and Police and several other government and judicial officials, Santokhi said, responding to questions from reporters before the weekly cabinet meeting Wednesday.

The Justice Minister was reluctant to present more detailed information regarding the arrests since investigations are continuing.

At a party rally Monday night, Bouterse accused the Justice Minister of planning to kill him, because according to Bouterse he has information over past drug trafficking activities of the minister.

Santokhi rejected the allegations, maintaining that Bouterse is attempting to create an unstable situation in order to justify a planned take over of the government.

In his address to thousands supporters Monday night, Bouterse insisted that the government and parliament are not functioning properly while he cast doubt on the bi-partisanship and objectivity of the court and the judiciary.

Santokhi further disclosed that the authorities received intelligence that several individuals in the remote interior were armed by Bouterse and his supporters, while a top official from his party, NDP, traveled to a “neighbouring country” to recruit individuals to commit violent attacks in Suriname, including arson and murders.

The Justice Minister claims that the destabilisation and assassination plots have more to do then just derailing the upcoming trial. Interests of organized crime are also at stake here, according to the government official.

Recently top crime leaders held a meeting to discuss actions aimed at bringing a halt to the assaults on their criminal enterprises by the authorities. During the past three years police have dismantled 9 of the 10 major criminal organisations in Suriname, including major drug trafficking rings with links to the Columbian rebel organization FARC.

Recently, President Venetiaan also mentioned the alleged destabilisation plans from Bouterse and his supporters.

Meanwhile, the president held a meeting with top security officials, including prosecutor-general Subhas Punwasi, police chief Delano Braam, army commander colonel Ernst Mercuur and colonel Johan Ceder, head of the Central Intelligence and Security Agency (CIVD) to discuss strategies how to address the security threats.

Meanwhile, late Wednesday afternoon, the National Democratic Party (NDP) issued a statement calling on President Venetiaan to order Santokhi to refrain from making wild accusations. According to the NDP, Santokhi is trying to distract the people’s attention from the serious socio-economic problems in the country, which the government seems unable to resolve.