PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The ‘de Ware Tijd’ newspaper says it will not comply with a demand by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to remove from its website the photo on the cover of a book by a Dutch entrepreneur, Gerard van den Bergh, alleging corruption at the highest level in Suriname.
Santokhi, through his attorney, Gerold Sewcharan, has already sent a writ to the publisher and a bookstore demanding that the book titled “Corruption at the Highest Level” be immediately withdrawn from the market.
The book by the Dutch businessman discusses doing business in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. The book’s cover features a photo of President Santokhi, Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Minister Parmanand Sewdien, and entrepreneur Vijay Kirpalani.
In refusing to remove the photo from its website, the newspaper said it views Santokhi’s demand as tantamount to censorship.
Santokhi, through the bailiff’s writ, has ordered the newspaper’s publisher to “immediately remove the image from its newspaper and DWT-online, to keep it removed and not to distribute or help distribute it in any way.”
Other local and foreign media that published the image have not received a notice to remove the photo.
“We see nothing wrong with publishing the cover of the book. We have not commented on the content of what was written or any allegations against the head of state. We see this far-reaching step as an attempt at censorship. The photo remains, and legally, the matter will also be investigated by us,” said Terence Oosterwolde, the newspaper’s deputy editor.
Last Thursday, Sewcharan ordered Vaco bookstore to withdraw the book from sale and to stop advertising it, with Santokhi saying that he did not give permission for the use of the photo and that it was a violation of his right to the protection of his moral integrity, good name and honor as well as his reputation as president.
He argued that this is also harmful to Suriname’s image and that the photo and the book’s contents draw a link between the president and corruption.
The bookstore has now stopped selling the book. However, its digital version is going viral and widely distributed on social media.
Santokhi also claims that the publication of the photo constitutes an infringement of the fundamental rights of the President as enshrined in the Constitution.
According to Santokhi, the violations include defamation, slander, libel, and insult, which are legally punishable actions in Suriname.
“The infringement also constitutes an unlawful act, for which DWT Publishing NV is jointly and severally liable for any resulting damage,” Santokhi said.
In his book, Van den Bergh claims that the success of doing business in Suriname depends on a personal network and political protection.
He also alleges, among other allegations, that the laws and regulations in Suriname are subordinate to the whims of politicians.
In his writ, Sewcharan asks the court to approve the book’s withdrawal from the local market, and that failure to do so would lead to legal proceedings.
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