Judge dismisses claims in summary proceedings against Mennonite eviction

With the ruling, the company did not obtain the requested judicial protection against the deportation. The claimant was also ordered to pay the legal costs. The judgment was declared provisionally enforceable, meaning that the eligible parts of the ruling may also be enforced in the event of an appeal.

The interim proceedings were initiated on Tuesday, October 27, by Suriname Green Energy Agriculture N.V., represented by attorney Derrick Veira. The proceedings followed the removal of approximately sixty Mennonites from the Masoniagebied. Those involved were taken by police to Kraka, in the district of Para.

 Dispute over residency status

During the hearing, the Mennonites’ residency status and the lawfulness of the planned deportation were central. The State argued that the foreign nationals concerned do not possess the required residency documents.

Attorney Veira, on the other hand, argued that applications for a Machtiging tot Kort Verblijf (MKV) had been submitted, but that the government had not responded to them. The agricultural company also pointed to previous agreements with the government and the consequences that deportation would have for agricultural operations.

The State disputed several elements of this argumentation and argued, among other things, that the claims were premature.

 Deportation possible next step

Minister Harish Monorath of Justice and Security had previously announced that the authorities would proceed with deportation if the judge dismissed the claims.

With the judgment, the request to halt the planned deportation has been dismissed. Whether and when the authorities will actually proceed with deportation is not yet known.

The judge’s precise legal considerations and the amount of the awarded legal costs are yet to emerge from the written judgment. It is also not yet known whether the claimant will lodge an appeal.