标签： Suriname

The Indigenous Platform Unity Solidarity Alliance and Progress (Esav) has submitted a petition to President Jennifer Simons, demanding the immediate release or pardon of five Indigenous men involved in the Pikin Saron legal case. Esav also called for a fully independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of Martinus Wolfjager and Ivanildo Dijksteel, urging accountability for those responsible. Additionally, the platform advocated for the establishment of a Ministry of Indigenous Affairs. The petition highlights the escalating tensions over land rights in Pikin Saron, which reached a boiling point on May 2, 2023, when residents took drastic measures after repeated protests, negotiations, and petitions failed to yield results. This led to the hostage-taking of officials and the burning of vehicles and buildings. During the police intervention, two Indigenous men lost their lives. The five suspects initially received an eight-year prison sentence, with their appeal still pending. A separate case against seven police officers suspected of involvement in the deaths of Wolfjager and Dijksteel is also ongoing. Esav further demanded a thorough police investigation into the disappearance of a third Indigenous man during the incident, a review of the proposed 5-kilometer zone around Indigenous villages, formal recognition of demarcation maps for each Indigenous village through VIDS, full acknowledgment of self-determination rights and cultural heritage, and an immediate investigation into environmental pollution in Maripaston and tensions surrounding Grassalco in Pikin Saron and Bigi Poika. The petition was received at the President’s Cabinet by Chief of Staff Sergio Akiemboto, who emphasized that no land rights issue worldwide has been fully resolved within a single term. However, he suggested the necessity of a temporary law to immediately halt or strictly regulate land distribution in Indigenous and Maroon residential areas to prevent a recurrence of Pikin Saron. Esav also presented the same petition to National Assembly Chairman Ashwin Adhin.

The General Interest Organization of Suriname (Abos) has formally submitted a petition to the National Assembly, demanding the immediate dismissal of Prosecutor General Garcia Paragsingh. The petition, personally received by Assembly Chairman Ashwin Adhin, accuses Paragsingh of ‘attributable negligence and dereliction of duty’ in the constitutional execution of her office. Martin Atencio, representing Abos, emphasized the need for a criminal investigation into the matter, citing Article 142, Section 2 of the Constitution as the legal basis for her removal. This marks the second time in two months that Abos has filed such a petition, this time with a renewed urgency. The organization has highlighted over fourteen alleged ‘misdeeds’ by Paragsingh, including political persecution, mishandling of high-profile cases, and the controversial liquidation of two unarmed, handcuffed men in Pikin Saron. Abos is also calling for a mandatory response from the Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding a previously submitted legal notice, the establishment of a People’s Tribunal, and a substantive dialogue on land rights and domain issues. Political leaders have been urged to ‘no longer look away’ and to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities. Chairman Adhin acknowledged the societal uproar caused by these issues and assured that they are being addressed within both governmental and parliamentary frameworks. The petition has also been forwarded to the President’s Cabinet.

The United States military has escalated its anti-drug operations by conducting its eighth strike on a suspected drug transport vessel, this time in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday evening, resulted in the deaths of two individuals, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday. This marks a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s campaign against drug trafficking in South America.

Previously, the seven earlier strikes were concentrated in the Caribbean. However, the latest operation signifies a strategic shift toward the waters off South America, a critical route for cocaine smuggling from major producers like Colombia and Peru. Ecuador, with its extensive ports and trade flows, serves as a key transit hub.

Hegseth drew parallels between the fight against drug cartels and the U.S. war on terrorism post-9/11, stating, ‘Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our borders and our people.’ He emphasized that no mercy would be shown, declaring, ‘There will be no refuge or forgiveness—only justice.’

President Donald Trump has justified these military actions by framing the U.S. as being in an ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels, labeling these criminal groups as unlawful combatants. He relies on the same legal framework used in the war on terror under President George W. Bush. Trump hinted at future land-based strikes, vowing, ‘We will hit them very hard when they come over land,’ and indicated he might inform Congress of further steps.

The military campaign has sparked political and legal debates. Lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties have raised concerns over the lack of congressional authorization and the limited transparency surrounding the execution of these strikes. Democrats have pointed to potential violations of both U.S. and international law.

Senator Rand Paul (Republican) criticized the executive branch, warning that Congress must not allow the president to become ‘judge, jury, and executioner’ in this matter. Meanwhile, the Republican-dominated Senate recently rejected a Democratic proposal that would have required the president to seek congressional approval for further military actions.

In the House of Representatives, Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, called for a hearing on the strikes, criticizing the White House and the Department of Defense for their lack of transparency regarding the use of lethal military force.

Additionally, the U.S. military has significantly increased its presence in the Caribbean Sea and off the coast of Venezuela since the summer, fueling speculation that the Trump administration may be pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is accused of involvement in narco-terrorism.

The recent strike was captured in a video showing a small boat, allegedly loaded with cocaine packages, exploding and burning on the water. Since the campaign began last month, at least 34 deaths have been reported. The administration has so far avoided prosecuting the occupants of the targeted vessels, with two survivors repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia. Ecuadorian authorities later released one due to insufficient evidence of criminal activity.

While fentanyl, a potent synthetic drug responsible for many overdose deaths in the U.S., is primarily smuggled via land routes from Mexico, the current campaign focuses on cocaine transported by sea.