(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The umbrella organization of Chinese in Suriname, Suriname Chinese United Association (SCUA), is shocked by reports about human trafficking of Chinese in Suriname. “We know absolutely nothing about this”, SCUA spokesman and board member Stephen Tsang tells the paper. “If that is really true, we deplore the fact that people are being lured to Suriname in that way “. Tsang says he also knows nothing about the killer contracts allegedly being forced on the Chinese. He claims he has never received such information, adding that he has no inkling that such things are taking place here. Yesterday, de Ware Tijd cited a police report on human trafficking of Chinese who are lured to Suriname and are forced to perform slave labor here. A high-ranking security official confirmed the presence of the Chinese Mafia in Suriname as well. The police report says the Surinamese authorities cannot do much against the perpetrators due to lack of evidence, as victims refuse to cooperate out of fear for reprisals. “We will certainly take steps”, the spokesman says. A meeting will be held to discuss this issue and determine what can be done against this. Tsang says he wants to talk with both organizations and the Chinese community to see whether they know about any cases of exploitation in this country. If this is the case, the police will be involved immediately. Tsang says the SCUA is willing to fully cooperate with the judicial investigation.
