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WORLD NEWSTuesday 26 May 2015

Suriname elections to decide government for next 5 years

Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse speaks with journalists at the presidential cabinet office in nically diverse country of der international pressure
Paramaribo, Suriname. Bouterse is betting that the Monday, May 25, 2015 election to choose the about 550,000 people. he allowed the return of
South American country’s next Parliament will keep him and his party in power for another five Bouterse promised a land- civilian rule in 1987, only to
years. slide victory in Monday’s launch a second coup in
election. His party needs 1990. His strategic coalition-
(AP Photo/Edward Troon) a two-thirds majority of 34 building with former po-
seats in Parliament for him litical enemies got him the
PARAMARIBO, Suriname him and his party in power military dictator of Suri- to be automatically re- presidency in 2010. Some
(AP) — Suriname’s Presi- for another five years. name twice after leading elected as party leader of those old alliances frac-
dent Desi Bouterse is bet- Most recent polls conduct- coups and has been con- without forging a coalition. tured in recent years, but
ting that Monday general ed in Suriname give a com- victed in absentia of drug Bouterse’s biggest rival is recent polls have indicat-
elections to choose the fortable majority to Bout- trafficking, but was elected Chan Santokhi, a former ed Bouterse remains popu-
South American country’s erse’s National Democratic democratically in 2010 to justice minister who leads lar. But he is dogged by old
next Parliament will keep Party. The 69-year-old was his current term in the eth- a new opposition coali- allegations of corruption.
tion that calls itself the V7 Convicted of drug traffick-
alliance. Santokhi and his ing in absentia in 1999 in
coalition accuse the gov- the Netherlands, he was
ernment of corruption and sentenced to 11 years but
such bad financial mis- avoided that punishment
management that public because Suriname doesn’t
debt has increased from have an extradition treaty
roughly $295 million in 2010 with its former colonial ruler.
to $1.7 billion now. Since 2010, he has also had
Bouterse has loomed over immunity as head of state.
Surinamese politics for de- Earlier this year, a U.S. judge
cades. He first came to sentenced Bouterse’s son
power in 1980, when he led Dino to serve over 16 years
a coup that saw the consti- in prison after he admitted
tution suspended and Par- that he offered a home
liament dissolved just five base in Suriname to the
years after independence Lebanese militant group
from the Netherlands. Un- Hezbollah. q

Mexico officials stand by account of deadly ranch shootout

E. CASTILLO state. Officials say the fight copter, killing eight soldiers. rived, the death toll might on the bodies of the victims
Associated Press began when police offi- Families of some of the men have been different.” showed they had been
MORELIA, Mexico (AP) — cers came under fire while killed on Friday told The As- National Security Commis- shot “from a considerable
Mexican officials stood by responding to a report of sociated Press that after sioner Monte Alejandro distance ... dozens of me-
their account Monday of a armed men taking over the viewing the remains of their Rubido said at a news con- ters (yards),” ruling out any-
shootout that killed 42 sus- Rancho del Sol, in Ecuan- loved ones, they doubted ference later Monday that body having been finished
pected criminals and one dureo, a township near the the official account. the helicopter had been hit off at close range.
federal police officer last border with Jalisco state. Relatives gathered at a lo- three times by bullets from An official from Michoacan
week, dismissing questions It was the deadliest such cal morgue said one body an AR-15 assault rifle. state, who spoke on condi-
raised about the lopsided confrontation in recent was missing an eye and Authorities detained three tion of anonymity because
death toll. memory and followed two had facial bruising, another people and confiscated he was not authorized to
“There was not one single deadly clashes in the area had its teeth knocked in- 38 semi-automatic weap- talk to the press, said all the
execution, I can say that controlled by the power- ward. ons, two smaller arms, a dead were men and most
categorically,” Enrique ful Jalisco New Generation Another had a gunshot in grenade launcher and a died from gunfire.
Galindo, head of Mexico’s cartel: The gang is blamed the top of the head. .50-caliber rifle. They had Rubido said the three men
federal police, told local for an ambush that killed 15 Galindo said a helicopter initially said they seized 40 arrested were “the only
media. state police officers in April gunship had participated weapons. three who when told to sur-
The 42 men died Friday dur- and for a May 1 attack in in the shootout and that its Speaking to the television render, did so.
ing a three-hour gun battle which a rocket launcher role had been decisive. “If network Televisa earlier The others refused and
on a ranch in Michoacan shot down an army heli- the helicopter had not ar- Monday, Rubido said tests continued shooting.”q