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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 1 February

Stalled murder trial back on for president of Suriname

vote in 2010 and re-elect- at that point to disclose the
ed in 2015. sentence they are seeking.
He pushed an amnesty law The decision was wel-
through parliament that comed by relatives of the
would have ended his trial victims of what are known
but that was ruled uncon- in Suriname as the Decem-
stitutional. ber killings, whose victims
In June, he directed the included some of the most
country’s attorney general prominent citizens of the
to immediately halt the le- small country.The coming
gal proceedings against days the relatives of the
him, invoking an article of victims will have to be very
the constitution that allows careful.”
the president to issue such Irvin Kanhai, a lawyer for
an order in the interests of Bouterse, said the ruling of
national security. the Military Court did not
But the presiding judge in
the military court, Cynthia surprise him and said he did
Valstein-Montnor, ruled the not know whether the pres-
prosecution does not have ident would again seek to
the authority to withdraw a stop the process again.
complaint after a trial has “I am a lawyer, not a mem-
started. ber of the government,” he
She scheduled the next ses- said. “I have no idea what
sion of the court for Feb. 9. the government will do
In this 2015 photo, Suriname President Desire Delano Bouterse observes a military parade in Para- Prosecutors are expected now. “q
maribo, Suriname. A military court in Suriname on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, ordered the president
to resume his long-stalled murder trial in the killing of political opponents under his dictatorship in
1982.
(AP Photo/Ertugrul Kilic)
PIETER VAN MAELE litical opponents under his fendants are accused of
Associated Press dictatorship in 1982. rounding up 15 prominent
PARAMARIBO, Suriname The court ruled the presi- opponents and executing
(AP) — A military court on dent breached his legal them inside a colonial for-
Monday ordered a resump- authority last year when he tress in the capital of the
tion of the long-stalled mur- ordered a halt to the pro- South American country.
der trial of President Desi ceedings. Bouterse was elected pres-
Bouterse in the killing of po- Bouterse and 25 co-de- ident in a parliamentary
Argentina toughens immigration, deportation laws

DEBORA REY commit crimes including percent of the 40 million
Associated Press drug dealing, arms traffick- people living in Argentina.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina ing or money laundering. “Amnesty International
(AP) — Argentina tough- The government said au- considers that it’s a mistake
ened its immigration law thorities faced bureau- to reduce the migration
late Monday, making it cratic hurdles in deporting phenomenon to a debate
easier to deport foreigners foreigners who committed on national security that
who commit crimes or who such crimes. associates migrants with
are being investigated. The toughening of the law criminals,” the rights orga-
The changes to the 2003 is in stark contrast to Ar- nization said in a statement
law were implemented by gentina’s traditionally wel- Monday.
presidential decree, which coming immigration policy. “Even when States have
cites a rise in organized It seeks to curb a spike in the authority to establish
crime committed by for- crime that remains a top rules in migratory issues,
eigners. concern for Argentines
It restricts those serving ahead of this year’s con- they can’t violate the rights
sentences or with criminal gressional elections. guaranteed under the con-
records from entering Ar- Human rights advocates stitution and international
gentina and fast tracks the said it risks stigmatizing for- human rights treaties,” it
expulsion of foreigners who eigners who make up 4.5 added.q