PARAMARIBO – “People with disabilities evidently posed a threat to the president but the rice farmers did not which is why the president appeared to talk to them,” said Aniel Koendjbiharie, chairman of the Wan Okasi Foundation. He reminded the nation that the president drove right by the people with disabilities when they protested in the streets on January 22nd. “Why did the president choose to address the farmers?” Koendjbiharie pointed out that the actions of the Surinamese head of state prove that not everyone gets the same treatment.

“Every time the government claims that there is no money but evidently there is money for the farmers. So is there really no money or is there money now? Why is there money for the farmers? Are the farmers sponsors of the political party of the president? Do we get a different treatment because we can’t give donations to that  political party? These questions most likely will never be answered,” said Koendjbiharie. Several teachers told Times of Suriname that they were shocked by the president’s actions. One of the teachers explained that when the teachers rallied in front of the Office of the President the were not allowed to enter the premises. “The president never set foot outside of his office to address the teachers when they fought a just battle. Why were fewer police officers deployed to keep an eye on the farmers’ protest? When the teachers protested in the streets earlier this year many police officers were deployed. We hope that the president will give the next group that protesters in the streets and appears in front of his office the same treatment and that he also comes outside to address them personally,” said the teacher…[+]