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Viewing cable 09PARAMARIBO85, SURINAME: CHINESE SUGAR POT FOR GOVERNMENT
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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09PARAMARIBO85 | 2009-03-19 17:05 | 2011-01-31 15:03 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Paramaribo |
VZCZCXRO4245
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0085/01 0781739
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191739Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0642
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0168
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000085
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR JROSHOLT
SOUTHCOM FOR J5
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME: CHINESE SUGAR POT FOR GOVERNMENT
COALITION CAUSES MEDIA FLURRY
¶1. (SBU) Summary. The week of March 12, media coverage came
fast and furious about the most recent Chinese government
sugar pot of financial contributions to some political
parties in Suriname's New Front Plus (ruling) Coalition. The
media reported three of the New Front Plus Coalition members
unashamedly acknowledged receipt of contributions from the
Government of China (GOC), while others eschewed the
practice. Ironically, in July 2007 the ruling coalition had
adamantly protested as dollar diplomacy Taiwan's overtures
to Suriname. Apparently, some of the New Front Plus
Coalition is less concerned when the political donor is the
GOC. End Summary.
¶2. (SBU) On March 12, a media flurry broke over the Chinese
government sugar pot of financial contributions for some
political parties in Suriname's New Front Plus (ruling)
Coalition. On March 5, former United Party for the Interior
(BEP) Treasurer Nagesing Ajeki stated on the news broadcast
Suriname Vandaag (Suriname Today) that BEP had dismissed
him because he had questioned inappropriate usage of party
funds. (Note: BEP is a member of the A-Combination, a
coalition of three smaller political parties -- the General
Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), Seeka, and BEP, that
together form one member of Suriname's ruling coalition. End
Note.)
¶3. (SBU) On March 10, during an A-Combination meeting, Ronnie
Brunswijk, ABOP Chair and A-Combination parliamentarian,
raised the issue of these funds coming from a package of
gifts from the Government of China (GOC). (Note: The gifts
were given to a 12-member BEP delegation that traveled to
China from September 3-10, 2007. The media reported that in
addition to the all-expense paid trip, BEP party officials
received between $80 and $125,000 dollars, and several
student scholarships to China. End Note.) Brunswijk argued
gifts to any A-Combination member should be shared with all
members.
¶4. (SBU) BEP chair and Deputy Speaker of the National
Assembly Caprino Alendy reportedly responded that the
invitation to visit China, financial gifts, and scholarships
were explicitly directed to the BEP Party, and would not be
shared. In return, the GOC apparently required BEP to
support the One China Policy, according to one media
report. Brunswijk, apparently unsatisfied with this
response, made a public statement to the media.
¶5. (SBU) In a domino effect, on March 13 and 14, three of
four national papers reported on additional GOC financial
gifts to other Surinamese political parties. De Ware Tijd
(the newspaper of record) quoted the statement of Winston
Jessurun, leader of Democratic 91 (DA91), another New Front
Plus Coalition member party, that the GOC had made a generous
contribution to the ruling coalition in the aftermath of
Suriname's 2005 national election. This donation was
distributed amongst the coalition member parties based on a
distribution code. Jessurun's statement was echoed by United
Reform Party (VHP) First Secretary Mahinder Rathipal, who
said China has supported us, and has offered support when
necessary, and by Pertjajah Luhur (PL) Vice Chair Ronny
Tamsiran, who stated there is nothing wrong when a friendly
nation donates money or goods to a political party.
¶6. (SBU) Other coalition members sang a different tune.
Surinamese Labor Party (SPA) Secretary for Foreign Relations
John Defares said no SPA members had received gifts from the
GOC. First Secretary Sunil Oemrawsing of the National Party
of Suriname (NPS), the party of President Venetiaan, said
media reports were absolutely, absolutely untrue. (Note:
The NPS is the party of choice for many Chinese-origin
Surinamers, and has a large China lobby within the party.
End Note.) In the meantime, representatives of opposition
parties Political Wing of the Federation of Agricultural
Workers (PVF) and the National Democratic Party (NDP) said
neither party had received gifts or trips to China.
¶7. (SBU) Comment. In this media flurry, the tables turned on
the GOC. Media coverage in the past has focused on ruling
coalition complaints of Taiwan's dollar diplomacy overtures
to Suriname, a hot topic in July 2007. Current reporting
shows the Surinamese public that, in fact, the New Front Plus
Coalition is of two minds on whether it is appropriate for
PARAMARIBO 00000085 002 OF 002
political parties to accept sugar pots. Apparently for some
in the ruling coalition, dollar diplomacy is defined
differently when the donor is the GOC rather than Taiwan.
End Comment.
SCHREIBER HUGHES