INTERNATIONAL TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015 Strongman looms large as Suriname votes PARAMARIBO: Suriname goes to the polls in general Surinamese interior. The smallest country in South elections yesterday with its convicted drug trafficker America, Suriname was colonized by the British and president striving to tighten his controversial grip on Dutch and gained independence from the the reins of power. The colorful Desi Bouterse, who Netherlands in 1975. Five years later, a group of ser- has ruled the small South American country on and geants led by Bouterse overthrew prime minister off since 1980, is seeking to dispense with his alliance Henck Arron and installed a military government. with one-time nemesis Ronnie Brunswijk and preside Whether in his dictator’s fatigues and sunglasses or over the first non-coalition democratic government in his sharp president’s suit, Bouterse, 69, has loomed Suriname’s history. Bouterse’s National Democratic large over the country’s politics ever since. Party formed a government after the last elections in His regime put down two countercoups and 2010 by forging a motley mega-coalition, returning rounded up and executed 15 opponents in 1982, an him to power for the second time since his 1980-1987 event known as the “December killings.” Bouterse military government. stepped down in 1987, but returned to power in 1990 But after the coalition fell apart, the NDP decided in a second, bloodless coup. After leaving power a to go it alone this time, buoyed by strong standings in second time, Bouterse was indicted and court-mar- opinion polls. The party needs to win at least 26 seats tialed for the December killings, but his coalition in the 51-member National Assembly to govern alone, passed a controversial amnesty law in 2012 that and 34 seats to re-elect Bouterse-the president is cho- aborted the trial. sen by a two-thirds majority of parliament. “Strong The president and his family have faced a host of foundations have been laid for the future of this coun- other legal woes, adding to the country’s reputation try,” Bouterse, who has been a coup leader, dictator for drug running, money laundering and graft. The and an international fugitive, told large crowds on Netherlands convicted him in absentia of cocaine Saturday. He accused the main opposition V7, a coali- smuggling in 1999, but he remained free because tion of six parties, of fearmongering. Suriname does not extradite its citizens. Earlier this “We have to stop with using the culture of fear and PARAMARIBO: A Surinamese woman votes (right) at a polling station during the general elections in year, a Dutch court rejected his third bid to have the unremitting suspense against this society,” he bel- Paramaribo yesterday. — AFP conviction overturned. In all, seven parties and four lowed, to hearty cheers from supporters. The V7, coalitions are vying for the ballots of 350,000 regis- which has a broad ethnic base in the racially diverse “powerful, honest government, good governance.” before teaming up with his former foe in 2010. tered voters, who will also elect their district and local country whose 500,000 people have roots in Asia, The third main group in the election fray, and possible representatives. Polls open at 7:00 am (1000 GMT) and Africa, Europe and the Americas, in turn accuses powerbroker, is the Alternative Combination alliance Bouterse looms large close 12 hours later. The first, partial results are Bouterse of massive corruption. At the same time, leg- led by Brunswijk, a former guerrilla leader who fought The party’s base are the Maroons, the descendants expected at 10:00 pm, with a projection of the full islator Chan Santokhi, who leads the V7, promised a a civil war against Bouterse’s military government of fugitive slaves who set up settlements in the results early today.— AFP 3 die in attack targeting Suicide truck bomb kills Pakistan President’s son at least 5 in Afghanistan KANDAHAR: A suicide truck bombing that the incident was under investiga- killed at least five people and wounded tion. And in western Farah province, Gov Militants target telecoms, one dead 62 in southern Afghanistan yesterday, Asif Nang said rival insurgent groups had officials said. The truck struck at the gate been fighting each other for three days, QUETTA: Three people were killed and four others of the provincial council’s compound in leaving at least 25 dead on both sides. injured when Baluch separatists targeted a convoy Zabul province’s capital of Qalat, council Nang said the fighting in Khaki Safed dis- carrying the Pakistani president’s son in the south- director Atta Jan Haqbayan said. Three of trict was between the Taleban and a western province of Baluchistan late Sunday night, the wounded were council members, group that identified itself as an Islamic police said. “An explosive laden motorbike parked at including two women, and children were State affiliate. He said 10 of those killed a roadside was blown up with a remote control also among the wounded, Haqbayan were identified as Taleban insurgents and device when [the] convoy of President Mamnoon said. Mirwais Noorzai, Zabul’s police 15 as having aligned themselves with IS. Hussain’s son, Salman Mamnoon was passing by late chief, said the attacker used a small truck Nang provided no further details. The Sunday night in Hub Industrial Zone near the border in the bombing. President Ashraf Ghani Taleban have been fighting to overthrow with Karachi,” local police official Ghulam Mustafa condemned the attack in a statement. No the Kabul government since their own Shah said yesterday. He said the president’s son was group immediately claimed responsibility regime was ousted in the 2001 US-led unharmed as his vehicle had already passed the spot for the attack. Insurgent activity in Zabul, invasion. The Islamic State group is where the device exploded hitting a rikshaw and the which borders Pakistan, has intensified in believed to have a presence in last vehicle of the convoy. “The rikshaw driver, a 12- recent months. The province has also Afghanistan, mostly in the south. Afghan year-old child in the rikshaw and a passerby died at seen a number of kidnappings, especially and foreign officials differ on how wide- the spot while four police personnel of the security of minority Hazara Shiite men, raising spread and operational the group’s pres- squad received minor injuries,” he said. fears that Afghanistan’s war may be tak- ence is but most agree it is growing. Zahid Ullah, a senior police official confirmed the ing on a sectarian element. Meanwhile, in northern Sari Pul province, incident and said the president’s son owns a dairy Also yesterday, three policemen were police said the body of a local official in farm in the area and is a frequent visitor. “The presi- killed in neighboring Kandahar province charge of religious affairs, Abdul Wodod, dent’s son was the apparent target of the attack,” he when a firefight erupted between two was found yesterday, three days after he said. Meerak Baluch, spokesman of the Baluch groups of officers, said provincial police was kidnapped. Gen Habib Gulbhary, the Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the spokesmen Zia Durrani. Four of the offi- provincial police chief, said Wodod was attack in a telephone call to AFP. “We claim responsi- cers involved in the fight in Maiwand dis- kidnapped by unknown assailants in bility for the attack, it was in response to the military trict fled the scene, said Durrani, adding Sozma Qala district.— AP operation carried out in various areas of Baluchistan,” he said. Resource-rich Baluchistan is the largest of Pakistan’s four provinces, but its roughly seven mil- lion inhabitants have long complained they do not Quake shakes Tokyo receive a fair share of its gas and mineral wealth. KARACHI: Pakistani volunteers and rescue workers unload an injured victim of a bomb blast upon Rebels began their fifth insurgency against the state his arrival at a local hospital in Karachi. Police say the son of Pakistan’s president has escaped a in 2004, with hundreds of soldiers and militants killed roadside bomb attack unharmed after the blast killed three people and wounded 15. — AP TOKYO: A strong quake shook build- broadcaster NHK reported the effects in the fighting since then. ings in Tokyo yesterday, setting off were felt over a large area around the Lashkar-e-Islam - in the same area, warning phone age. Muslim-majority Kashmir is a heavily militarized alarms and temporarily bringing the capital. Militants target telecoms companies to shut down their operations and land- region, claimed by both Pakistan and India in full but city’s subway system to halt, AFP However, there were no immediate In another development, militants attacked a lords to dismantle mobile phone towers erected on ruled by the two countries in part. Separatists have reporters in the Japanese capital said. reports of injuries or any damage, mobile phone shop in Indian Kashmir yesterday, their property. “We warn these telecommunication been fighting Indian security forces in the Indian- Scientists said there was no risk of a including at any of the shuttered killing one employee and wounding two, in the sec- companies to close all networking services, close administered part of the region since 1989, although tsunami from the quake, which had a nuclear power stations in the region. A ond attack in as many days to target telecommunica- their offices and stop recharging services as well. We the frequency of attacks has waned in recent years. magnitude of 5.3, according to the US massive 9.0 magnitude quake that tion businesses in the disputed region.