Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 1998, publiée 87ème session CIT (1999)

1. Article 1(a) of the Convention. In its earlier comments the Committee noted that section 1 of Decree No. B-10 of 29 June 1983 prohibits the import, carrying, sale, distribution, possession, storage, production and reproduction of prescribed publications which, in the opinion of the competent authorities, may seriously disturb the public order and national security; section 2 of the Decree provides for penalties of imprisonment and fines. The Committee also referred to the National Decree of 20 July 1956 which subjects meetings, open to the public and other meetings in the district of Paramaribo, to prior authorization under section 5 of the Royal Decree of 26 October 1933 (on the exercise of the right of assembly) and provides for penalties involving compulsory labour under sections 8 and 9 of the 1933 Decree. The Government indicated in its report of 1994 that neither Decree No. B-10 nor the National Decree was applied in practice and that the Ministry of Justice had been asked to update the National Decree to bring it into conformity with democratic principles. The Government's reports received in September 1995 and September 1997 contain no new information on these points. The Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will adopt the necessary measures in the near future, in order to bring the legislation into conformity with the practice described and the Convention. It asks the Government to provide in its next report information on progress made in this regard.

Article 1(c) and (d). In its earlier comments the Committee noted the Government's statement that a draft decree prepared by the Minister of Justice to repeal sections 456 to 458, 462, 463 and 468, and to amend sections 455 and 464 of the Penal Code applying to seafarers would be submitted to the competent authority. The Committee also noted the Government's indications that the draft decree had been approved by the Council of Ministers but not yet adopted by the National Assembly or published. In its report of 1994 the Government indicated that this matter would once again be brought to the attention of the Ministry of Justice. The Government's reports of 1995 and 1997 contain no new information on this point. The Committee hopes the Government will shortly be able to indicate that this matter, on which it has been commenting for many years, has been settled. It asks the Government to communicate information on progress made in its next report.

2. The Committee recalls the information provided by the Government in its report in 1994 concerning complaints of human rights violations submitted under Decrees Nos. A-18/1985 and A-18A/1986. Please include in future reports any further information gathered by that means which has a bearing on the application of the Convention.