Press association in Suriname warns free speech and freedom of the press under threat

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC –  The Surinamese Association of Journalists (SVJ) Wednesday expressed “serious concern” at the move by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to ban a publication by a Dutch author and entrepreneur alleging corruption at the highest level in Suriname.

Earlier this week, the De Ware Tijd newspaper said it would not comply with a demand by President Santokhi to remove from its website, the photo on the cover of the book, titled “Corruption at the Highest Level, and featuring the head of state, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Parmanand Sewdien and entrepreneur Vijay Kirpalani.

Santokhi , through his attorney, Gerold Sewcharan, has already sent a writ to a bookstore demanding that the book be immediately withdrawn from the market

But the SVJ in a statement said that the freedom of expression of individuals, as well as the freedom of the press are under threat, noting that they are among the special fundamental rights of the citizen anchored in the Constitution, the American Convention on Human Rights and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The SVJ said that these legal provisions are in place to stimulate and organise society in the fulfilment of both its rights and its obligations.

For example, it said that these provisions allow for everyone to have the right to express his or her opinion freely without interference from anyone and that such rights are limited in the event of slander, insult or damage to the good name. and honour of another.

The SVJ said that the provisions within these conventions strongly emphasise that assessing and adjudicating on matters are only assigned to the independent judge, or the judiciary and that the head of state as guardian of the constitutional rights and duties of society, must comply with this.

“The SVJ, therefore, emphatically condemns the fact that the president, used his position of power as a political government, to ban the distribution of the book by the bookstore, as well as attempting to censor a media house, in an attempt to deprive the public of a newsworthy topic.

“The SVJ emphasises that, as the definition reads, censorship…never will be accepted and permitted. If the President feels his honour has been compromised,he will have to submit this to an independent judge for assessment.”

The SVJ said it is further concerned that the bookstore without a judicial assessment and ruling on the incident, has complied with the summons of the head of state and removed the book from the shelves.

It said that the President's “arbitrary summons” to De Ware Tijd, to remove the photo while other media have also used the photo is all the more worrying and questionable.

The journalists' association praises the newspaper for its position and urged other media establishments to “jointly promote this position”.

The SVJ said it was also calling on civil society and other stakeholders “to do everything possible, with due observance of the legal provisions, to ensure that there is no further disruption of social relations, order and peace, which are much needed for overall harmony”.

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