Suriname swings for Bouterse

May 26, 2010 News

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By Neil Marks in Paramaribo

Three decades after a military coup made him the de facto leader in a military dictatorship that spawned a civil war, Desi Bouterse looks set to become President of Suriname all over again.
Should he get into office, Bouterse wants a deeper connection with South America and that includes bridging the Corentyne River.
Bouterse emerged from an interior location to cast his ballot just before the close of poll last evening and the parade of shouts for `Bouta! Bouta!` easily put President Ronald Venetiaan in the background.
Political analysts and local journalists are adamant that this is `Desi time` although he will still need to form a deeper coalition to control the 51-seat legislature should his Mega Alliance take majority of the votes. Of Bouterse and Venetiaan, the former military dictator seems poised for victory that only the results can confirm.

If Bouterse`s Mega Alliance of four parties fail, it would be a big blow to those who lined the streets and waited for hours to see him arrive at Clevia on the outskirts of the capital, Paramaribo to vote.
Bouterse didn’t need the drums and backup dancers that paraded before President Venetiaan cast his ballot. All Bouterse needed to do was emerge from his vehicle and his supporters transformed the area in a carnival atmosphere.
With a past marred by allegations of murder during his leadership in the 80s and a drug trafficking conviction hanging over his head in the Netherlands, Bouterse charged to the polling place in a jolly mood.
The support he has enjoyed tells political watchers that Surinamese might have put Bouterse’s past behind them.
On the way to the polling place, Bouterse did not want to make any preliminary commitments about relations with Guyana, saying he wanted to win the elections first.
At the Guyana Embassy in Paramaribo, Ambassador Merlin Udho, reserved her comments, but said the relationship with the Venetiaan government has been cordial, with both governments working to strengthen bilateral relations.
But with a possible change in government, Udho preferred not to comment.
“We`ll just have to wait and see who the Surinamese people elect; it`s their right to do that,” she said. An estimated 40,000 Guyanese live and work in Suriname.
Bouterse ran his campaign on forging links to South America, with talks of bridging the Corentyne River and pushing the development of a highway to Brazil.
In addition, he promises to put computers in every school in Suriname for the next five years, something that appealed to Guyanese Rajpattie Latchman.

Rajpattie voted for the first time yesterday, having become a Surinamese citizen. Four other members of her family joined her to vote at the same polling station as Bouterse did.
Originally from Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, Rajpattie said that she came to Suriname 20 years ago and has made the country her home. Now, she wants a better education system for her children and that’s why she decided to vote.
Mathaera Akash and Murli Risha, two University of Suriname students, who voted for the first time also said these elections were important to them.
“I want to help elect a Parliament that will serve my interest. I didn`t want to waste my vote,” said Akash.
“It`s my duty; I too want to choose my own Parliament,” Risha added.
Voting across Suriname was peaceful. There were sporadic eruptions of celebrations resembling carnival whenever political leaders showed up at their respective polling places to vote.
President Ventiaan voted early in the morning.  He arrived at the polling station with a parade of drummers and dancers, confident that his coalition, New Front Alliance, could once more take control of the 51-seat Parliament. But political analysts say he doesn’t stand a chance.
Venetiaan has said that he is not interested in the presidency again, but if he wins, he could find himself in a quagmire to select a presidential candidate from among the four parties that form the New Front Alliance. Insiders say there was an agreement for the president to come from the East Indian-dominated party that joined forces with Venetiaan, but that is questionable at this point in time.
However, at least on elections day, Venetiaan showed he was not too concerned about his opponents and after voting he danced with supporters.
The tension common to elections in Guyana was non-existent here. This was no surprise for Ambassador Albert Ramdin, the Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States, who met with both Venetiaan and Bouterse after the two leaders had voted.
Ramdin told Kaieteur News that Suriname has had a history of peaceful elections. Democracy is very much alive in this former Dutch colony, he said.
Describing the atmosphere, he said the people understood the serious matter of choosing a new political directorate, but they were also having fun and showing respect for others.
Ramdin said that the smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections was a clear signal that the people of Suriname are committed to democracy.
More than 423, 000 persons were registered to vote and there was a high voter turnout.

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