Situation in Suriname – End to strikes and report of agreement between Daal and Policy Center
F-2012-32749
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2012-32749 Doc No. C05267160 Date: 01/03/2013
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 PARAMA 02268 032315Z
ACTION ARA-16
INFO OCT-00 COPY-01 ADS-00 AID-07 INR-10 EUR-12 SS-10 CIAE-00 EB-08 DODE-00 H-01 NSCE-00 NSAE-00 SSO-00 SY-06 HA-08 L-03 LAB-04 PM-09 PA-01 SIL-01 INRE-00 SAL-01 ANAE-00 SYE-00 USIE-00 SP-02 SPRS-01
/101 W
160307 032320Z /66
0 032100Z NOV 82 ZFF-4
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 9169
INFO AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
AMEMBASSY CARACAS RELEASED IN FULL
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE
USCINCSO QUARRY HTS PN
COMUSFORCARIB KEY WEST FLA
CONFIDENTIAL PARAMARIBO 2268
E.O. 12356: DECL: 11/03/92
TAGS: ELAB, PDEV, PINT, PINR, NS
SUBJ: SITUATION IN SURINAME NOVEMBER 3 – END TO STRIKES AND REPORT OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN DAAL AND POLICY CENTER
REF: PARAMARIBO 2243
- Confidential – entire text.
- Summary. Widespread strikes on November 2 of unions affiliated with Cyril Daal’s Moederbond labor federation were called off by Daal on November 3 amid radio news report that some form of agreement had been reached between Daal and Garrison Commander and Policy Center Vice Chairman Roy Horb, acting as representative of Policy Center. Details of agreement are lacking, but it is understood that Horb has agreed to most of Daal’s demands for restoration of representative government in country. End summary.
- Break in Moederbond-Policy Center standoff came on November 2 when Garrison Commander and Policy Center Vice Chairman Roy Horb was authorized to meet with Daal. A press conference scheduled that day by Horb, in which he was expected to give account of meeting with Daal, was cancelled without explanation, however. Radio news report early Nov 3 announced Moederbond had called off further strike action because preliminary agreement had been reached with Horb on Daal’s demands for restoration of democracy in country. Report also said Policy Center would confirm agreement in a letter to Moederbond.
- On afternoon of November 3, Daal said in radio interview that Horb showed him copy of decisions taken by Policy Center on September 11 and 12, which included following points:
A) First phase of process of restoring representative government will be creation of national assembly which will oversee drafting of constitution. A statement of worker’s rights will be included in constitution, which will be subject to approval by referendum.
B) At this point, national assembly will then become highest legislative authority in land.
C) Secret, general elections within this new structure will be held.
D) A new law on political parties will be enacted.
- According to most recent reports, all Moederbond union members have returned to work. However, members of Association of Progressive Media Workers at state-run radio and television stations reportedly are “apparently” refusing to allow those workers affiliated with Moederbond to resume work.
(Comment: November 2 meeting between Horb and Daal came amid widespread strikes by Moederbond affiliates and some nonunionized workers, and voicing of strong support for restoration of representative government by moderate interest groups such as businessmen’s and lawyer’s associations. Other four labor federations also met with PM Jeijhorst and insisted that GOS should talk directly with Daal in order to bring quick end to strife. End comment).
- Comment.
A) The “agreement” negotiated between Daal and Horb has apparently much diminished risk of dangerous near-term confrontation between labor and military. It may, however, signal beginning of intense political in-fighting over shape of new political system in Suriname. Daal’s apparent acceptance of Policy Center statement that it had made decisions on democratic order as early as mid-September may undercut Daal’s position by giving legitimacy to Bouterse’s weekend statement that Daal knew that Policy Center was working on plan for representative government and new constitution. Additional problem is that so far no specific mention has been made regarding Daal’s principal demand that military return to barracks and leave governing to civilians.
B) While Daal’s astute handling of conflict is bound to put him in influential position vis-à-vis other union’s role in further talks, less than full support of Moederbond strike by other federations will be sore point between Daal and their leaders. In addition, report of agreement made no mention of time limits for reaching each aspect of democratic order and ratification of new constitution, nor plan for national reconstruction, as demanded by other four labor federations. End comment.
DUEMLING