Suriname has decided to report the Dutch police raid on its interim chargé d'affaires in The Hague to the United Nations.

On 16 July police raided the residence of David Abiamofo looking for drug traffickers. The Surinamese diplomat apparently identified himself to the police "in the proper manner" but they ignored this and allegedly pinned him down on the couch in front of his wife and child for two hours while they searched the house.

The Dutch government has apologised verbally and in writing for the incident. 

Surinamese Foreign Minister Winston Lackin said he accepted that the apologies were sincere, but he still wants to know how the police could have failed to realise it was a diplomat's residence when there was a car with diplomatic plates in the driveway. A raid on diplomatic premises violates the Vienna Convention, he added, and would therefore be reported to the UN.

Dutch newspaper AD reports that the house is registered in the name of Chrisna N., the brother of drug suspect Trees N. It's not clear how it could have been rented to Mr Abiamofo, since both the Dutch and Surinamese authorities routinely vet the owners of diplomatic residences.

(imm)

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