BOUTERSE Calls for Cuomo to resign
AWAITS RULING
he is uncertain what will happen after
the verdict, fueling speculation that he
was threatening the state once again.
His National Democratic Party (NDP),
which had won two consecutive five-year
terms, dropped to 16 seats from 26 as it
lost power to a Hindustani-led coalition
a year ago. It is expected to decline in
influence and parliamentary seats in the
coming years especially if he is off the
political scene. The NDP had also had a
four-year stint in government from 196-
2000 before it was pushed out by popular
protests against overspending among
other issues.
Bouterse has persistently denied any
direct involvement in the mass murders,
saying only that he accepts collective
responsibility because he was in charge
at the time.
Meanwhile, the former president’s
political and judicial woes have worsened
even further as the constitutional court
has ruled that a 2012 parliamentary
amnesty that had given him and others
immunity from prosecution is illegal,
invalid and of no effect, as it clears the
way for his month end sentencing. In all,
Bouterse has been able to avoid jail time
for nearly 40 years. NDP officials had
placed a lot of faith in the amnesty but
IN SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS AWARDED ANNUALLY
Caribbean L 14 ife, AUGUST 6-12, 2021
this has now been nullified.
“It is settled case-law of the Inter-
American Court of Human Rights that
if amnesties conflict with the American
Convention on Human Rights, these
amnesty will be declared null and void.
Suriname has the jurisdiction of the
aforementioned court recognized on
Nov. 12, 1987 and is bound by its rulings.
The court is therefore of the opinion that
the aforementioned law is contrary to
Articles 8, 10, 14 and 131 paragraph 3 of
the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname.
That the aforementioned law is
contrary to Articles 2 and 14 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and that the aforementioned law
is contrary to Articles 1, 8 and 25 of
the American Convention on Human
Rights,” said the judges.
Continued from Page 1
period,” Clarke continued. “There must
be a zero-tolerance policy for sexual
harassment, and now is the time to
send a clear message this behavior is
not and will not be tolerated.”
Clarke’s call was echoed by New
York Democratic representatives Jerrold
Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, Brian
Higgins, Nydia Velazquez, Ritchie
Torres, Kathleen Rice, Grace Meng,
Adriano Espaillat, Jamaal Bowman,
Mondaire Jones and Alexandria Ocasio
Cortez.
In March, amid mounting calls for
Cuomo to resign, Clarke revisited her
previous stance “in favor of a more
expedited call to action.
“These allegations have reached a
level that I believe impedes the governor’s
ability to serve the people of
New York State to the best of his abilities,”
Clarke said at the time. “I remain
confident that Attorney General Tish
James has the resources, prowess and
ability to conduct a comprehensive
and determinative report. However, I
must join my colleagues in calling for
Gov. Andrew Cuomo to step down.”
New York State Assemblymember,
Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, the Haitian
American chair of the Brooklyn
Democratic Party, said the Attorney
General’s 168-page report contains
findings of sexual harassment
and misconduct involving 11 victims,
“which are extremely troubling and
reprehensible.
“My full sympathy goes out to the
brave victims who endured these egregious
experiences, but took heroic
steps forward to provide evidence and
live testimonies for the public of the
disturbing behavior and abuse in a
work environment ‘filled with fear and
intimidation,’” said Bichotte Hermelyn,
the daughter of Haitian immigrants.
“As a childhood sexual abuse survivor
who also endured sexual harassment
throughout my career, these
testimonies triggered an emotional
disturbance,” added the representative
for the 42nd Assembly District
in Brooklyn. “There is absolutely no
room for this abuse, especially with
elected officials who’ve been entrusted
to fight it. Governor Cuomo’s conduct
found in the report is heinous and a
gross abuse of power.”
She said “the conduct by Gov.
Cuomo found in the report indicates
that he is unfit for office and should
step down and resign.”
Soon after the independent investigators
appointed by James — led by
Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark — on
Tuesday released their report into the
multiple allegations of sexual harassment
by Cuomo, New York City Public
Advocate Jumaane Williams called on
Cuomo to resign immediately.
Continued from Page 1
Former Suriname’s President Desi
Bouterse at the presidential palace
in Paramaribo, Suriname, July 15,
2020. REUTERS/Ranu Abhelakh/File
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