PARAMARIBO, Suriname – President Desi Bouterse made secret trips to Venezuela to secure funding for his campaign in last year’s general election, according to the documents released by the whistle blowing website, Wikileaks.
It said that United States diplomats claimed that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez financially supported Bouterse and that Bouterse even made several clandestine trips to Caracas to secure the funds.
Although no political party or alliance scored an outright majority at the May 25 general election, Bouterse’s Mega Combination won the largest block of parliamentary seats.
“A member of Desi Bouterse’s National Democratic Party (NDP) claims Bouterse is receiving funding and tacit political support from Venezuela. A member of the Mission has been told by a self described member of the NDP that former military dictator Desi Bouterse has made a number of recent trips to Venezuela; that he is receiving financial support from Venezuela; and that President Chavez has promised him recognition and support should Bouterse succeed in his stated goal of bringing down the government of President Venetiaan”, the US top diplomat wrote in 2005 in a cable to Washington.
In another cable, the US Embassy in Paramaribo warns that “Venezuela’s profile in Suriname is on the rise thanks to economic initiatives such as PetroCaribe, a joint Cuban-Venezuelan health care assistance program, and a steady public relations campaign by its Embassy over the past year.
“Despite this heightened engagement, Venezuela’s activism is not blindly well received, however, as some recognize the more obtrusive edges of PetroCaribe or are otherwise disappointed by supposed largesse”.
The Embassy said that “Venezuelan activism here will likely further increase, and if Chavez ramps up aid to Suriname, his ability to influence may well follow; NDP opposition party leader Desi Bouterse is already a fan”.
US diplomats quoting a top official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, said Venezuela tried to pressure the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country into signing the PetroCaribe oil deal.
Some Surinamese officials were concerned that it would “lead to increased political indebtedness to Venezuela” the US Embassy noted.
During a whirlwind visit to Suriname last November President Bouterse and Chavez signed several agreements including an accord to supply cheap fuel for the fishing sector.
During the visit Chavez urged the Suriname population to support “his brother”.
Bouterse, a former military strongman was sworn in as President in August. The 64-year-old leader had twice seized power here by way of coups but was given the democratic nod this time around securing enough votes in Parliament the previous month.
Bouterse’s chequered past includes a 1999 conviction in absentia by a Dutch court for trafficking cocaine to the Netherlands.
However, he has avoided an 11-year prison term because the two countries do not have an extradition treaty. (CMC)
