VZCZCXRO3407
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0589/01 3132032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 092032Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9796
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1617
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1192

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR JROSHOLT, JTILGHMAN; INR/IAA RCARHART 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV NS
SUBJECT: STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS:  DRIZZLE & FIZZLE 
 
REF: A. (A) PARAMARIBO 585 
 
     ¶B. (B) PARAMARIBO 586 
     ¶C. (C) PARAMARIBO 176 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000589  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U)  SUMMARY:  A student protest march organized on 
November 9 by the Youth Collective Suriname (YCS) failed to 
develop gravitas, but organizers can take some comfort from 
knowing that, despite heavy rains, they were successful at 
least in attracting about 300 student, reversing the trend of 
the previous three marches toward dwindling numbers.  The 
march appeared better orchestrated than earlier attempts; 
however, it failed to attract noticeable support beyond high 
school students.   END SUMMARY 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
BRING ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  As promised (Reftel A), the Youth Collective 
Suriname (YCS) staged its fourth protest march in the past 
week. Organizers called for all street vendors, the disabled, 
the mentally challenged, ex-military, squatters, unions, and 
the poor to join them.  They also indicated that there would 
be a "surprise element," raising speculation that opposition 
leader Desi Bouterse himself might make an appearance in 
support of the demonstrations.  They also indicated they 
would present a petition to the Embassy of the Netherlands. 
The Charge called the the Dutch Embassy on November 8 to get 
their views on the protests.  On the morning of November 9, 
the Charge, A/DCM, RSO and MGT met and developed a 
contingency plan in the event demonstrators approached the 
U.S. Embassy.  (They did not.) 
 
---------------------- 
DRIZZLE, THEN FIZZLE 
---------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  Having obtained the appropriate permit from the 
Police, the YCS began to congregate at a public plaza several 
blocks from the Embassy between 8:00 and 10:00 am.  At 9:00 
am the heavens erupted in thunder and heavy rains that 
drenched the participants -- and the brass band that had been 
invited to join them.  At about 10:00 am, march organizers, 
clearly identified by their bright red and yellow reflective 
vests, shepherded participants along the parade route, which 
passed a half block away from the Embassy, to the main 
West-East roadway, and toward downtown Paramaribo.  EmbOffs 
watched from the fourth floor of the Chancery as a splinter 
group of about 30 youth bolted from the main pack and entered 
the compound of a public high school directly across from the 
Embassy.  When their efforts to coax, cajole, and taunt 
students to join them failed to win any converts, they left, 
following a different route than the main pack.  Police had 
promised to intervene with the Riot Squad if schools were 
stormed, but no police were on hand to evict the protestors. 
In general, Police have kept their cool and kept the marchers 
on course. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  By the time the main pack reached the Dutch 
Embassy about a mile across town, the numbers had dwindled to 
about 150 (Dutch Embassy estimate) and had taken on the tone 
of a school outing.  The Dutch Second Secretary went out to 
the Embassy gate and received a petition while the students 
sang a "youth song," followed by the Dutch national anthem 
(no doubt a welcome break from the "Dutch-bashing" often 
associated with protests in Suriname).  The petition called 
for task forces on youth and education, a repeal of the 
recent tuition increase, and an anti-corruption code. 
 
¶5.  (U)  The marchers then proceeded to Office of the 
President.  When word came down that President Venetiaan 
would not meet with them, the marchers continued down the 
road and disbanded.  Organizers have announced another 
protest for Tuesday, November 13. 
 
---------------- 
MINIMAL IMPACT 
---------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  While the organizers can take heart from a better 
turnout than the previous two marches, they have yet to 
develop any serious or broad-based support: none of the 
groups that the YCS called out to participate joined them, 
and today's marchers were almost exclusively high school 
students and a few adults (perhaps parents).  The organizers 
themselves do appear to be more organized, even if they are 
unable to generate gravitas. For example, this was the first 
of the four marches where adults with safety vests shepherded 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000589  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
the students and kept them out of traffic.  The YCS also said 
they were sending organizers to Nieuw Nickerie in Suriname's 
westernmost department to broaden the scope of protest.  No 
reliable information is available on the outcome of that 
effort as of the drafting of this cable.  Nonetheless, the 
poor turnout in Paramaribo reflects the lack of focus of the 
YCS objectives, as well as an underlying public skepticism on 
the political motives behind the protests. 
 
Genton 
 
GENTON