Jailed political scientist Derek Ramsamooj threatens hunger strike

LANGUISHING in a Surinamese prison without charge for almost three months, political scientist Derek Ramsamooj is threatening to go on a hunger strike to protest his continued detention.

Concerns are being expressed over this drastic decision as Ramsamooj is diabetic and could go into a coma and die. Specialist in internal medicine, diabetes and endocrinology Dr Joel David Teelucksingh warned if Ramsamooj goes on a complete fast without consuming any fluids, he could die within two days. His sugar levels can rise or drop and a drastic and sudden change either way could also prove fatal.

Ramsamooj, 59, who worked for the former Surinamese Government which was voted out of office earlier this year, was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation involving the Surinamese Post Savings Bank (SPSB).

A Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) report on Monday said he has worked for political parties in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Guyana, Grenada, St Lucia and St Kitts-Nevis. He was told by Suriname police on October 6, that they wanted a statement or evidence to support an inquiry into operations at the SPSB.

Since then, he has been detained without charge. To bring attention to his dilemma and salvage his reputation, Ramsamooj has taken the decision to go on a hunger strike. The CMC reported that his lawyer Maureen Nibte confirmed her client said he will no longer be eating.

Ramsamooj also asked the Public Prosecution Service, through his lawyer, to provide a diabetes specialist to monitor his health, but this has not been done. He was reportedly placed in the infirmary of the Santo Boma prison two weeks at the insistence of his wife Camille Pagee and the TT authorities.

Nibte said she has also notified the Public Prosecution Service, the honorary consul of TT and the ambassador of Great Britain, as Ramsamooj  also has British nationality.