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Engels

Mennonites face impending deportation

PARAMARIBO – It would seem that the group of Mennonites that was rounded up this week in the Mazonia region early this week will be deported.

Times of Suriname

The judge on Thursday rules in favor of the state in the lawsuit that had been filed by Suriname Green Energy Agriculture NV versus the state. Suriname Green Energy Agriculture NV had filed the lawsuit to halt the deportation of 60 Mennonites. The judge also ordered Suriname Green Energy Agriculture NV to cover all of the costs of the legal proceedings. The Mennonites were put in buses and transported to Krakau to await deportation because they do not have the necessary papers to prove that they are in Suriname legally. It is not clear when the Mennonites will be deported. Police Spokesman Michel Elskamp announced that a flight would be chartered to report the Mennonites. Justice and Safety Minister Harish Monorath had explained that these Mennonites had repeatedly been instructed to vacate the area but that they refused to comply. According to Monorath, most of these people are from Brazil while a few are from Bolivia and Mexico. These Mennonites have no residency permit but they also do not have a work permit. Some of them have already been illegally in Suriname for about a year. According to Minister Monorath, four of these Mennonites have a tourist car that will expire mid November.