(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Pertjajah Luhur (PL) will vote for amendment of the Amnesty Act. The party council made this decision during a meeting at the PL centre at Gemenlandsweg last night. PL chairman Paul Somohardjo says that although his party will vote for amending the Act, he will not demand something in return. Just two branches from Commewijne stated that they do not support the amendment. They believe the timing is wrong, as a trial is ongoing now. Yet when Somohardjo asked one last time who agreed with the amendment, all those present showed support by standing up en masse. Somohardjo pointed out that the absence of PL parliamentarians has nothing to do with blackmail.”We don’t blackmail and we don’t want additional ministers. But I can’t make a decision alone because the party isn’t mine”, the chairman said. Besides, the party has also consulted its executive board, ministers, parliamentarians and representatives of religious groups. Somohardjo says he is willing to let bygones be bygones in spite of his harsh treatment by the former military regime. “We forgive just like the Christians say”, he stated. Even when he was part of the previous administration, he said he supported amnesty. Yesterday’s meeting was broadcast by several TV stations. Meanwhile, Parliament has been convened for a closed session on Friday to debate the preliminary advice of the reporting committee.
