APA..Newsletter # 3
International News..Indigenous Peoples Meet the President in Suriname to Talk About Land Rights (DWT 1 April 2000)

On March 31, the Indigenous and Maroon village leaders of the interior of Suriname rejected the government's proposal on land rights during the second Gran Krutu or big meeting held in Paramaribo. According to the Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs in Suriname (VIDS), the issue of land rights cannot be solved without amending the Constitution. According to the Constitution, the state has far reaching authority over natural resources, and therefore it can easily take decisions. Although the final word has not been said yet, this issue will be further discussed.

The government's decision is that the inhabitants of the interior are free to use the territory which they inhabit within the natural borders. The government will decide,

based on its constitutional responsibilities, which activities are of national economic importance, in cooperation with the region's inhabitants. A fund will be established, of which a certain percentage will be used for the development of the area in which the activities take place. The concession- aires will be made aware of all these facts. President Jules Wijdenbosch called this decision a " Basic Orientation Agreement,'' which offers sufficient room for change and brings order in the issue of land rights, which has been problematic for years.

According to VIDS Chairman, Ricardo Pane, this is a 'weak decision' which does not say

much. He does not see anything new in the first two points and calls the third 'vague'. The VIDS will see to it that land rights policy is well considered and brings a real solution.