23
not been killed. To that end, the Court decided to make inquiries in order to
estimate the income that the victims would have earned during the month of June,
1993, based on the economic activities pursued by each of them. That particular
month was selected because it was then that a free exchange market was
established in Suriname. In determining the amount of reparations, this made it
possible to avoid the distortions produced by a system of fixed rates of exchange in
the face of the inflationary process affecting the country’s economy. That situation
was in fact undermining confidence in long-term projections. In addition, the data
provided by the Commission on the victims’ income were not sufficiently
documented; it was therefore impossible to use them as the basis for calculation
without an in situ verification.
89.
The Court calculated the annual income of each victim in Surinamese Florins
and then converted it into dollars at the rate of exchange in effect on the free
market.
The annual figure was used to determine the wages that would have accrued during
the period from 1988 to 1993, including both of those years. Interest was added as
compensation to the sum obtained for each victim, in keeping with the rates in effect
on the international market. The resulting amount was increased by the current net
value of the expected income during the rest of the working life of each of the
victims. In the case of Mikuwendje Aloeboetoe, an adolescent, it was assumed that
he would begin to earn a living at the age of 18 and would receive an income similar
to that of those listed as construction workers.
90.
The calculations made on the basis of the preceding paragraphs produced the
following results:
Daison Aloeboetoe
Deede-Manoe Aloeboetoe
Mikuwendje Aloeboetoe
Richenel Voola
Indie Hendrik Banai
Bernard Tiopo
Asipee Adame
US$ 29,173.26,504.35,988.19,986.55,991.22,716.42,060.-
91.
As regards the reparations for moral damages, the Court believes that,
bearing in mind the economic and social position of the beneficiaries, such
reparations should take the form of a lump sum payment in the same amount for all
the victims, with the exception of Richenel Voola, who was assigned reparation that
exceeded that of the others by one third. As has already been stated, Richenel
Voola was subjected to greater suffering as a result of his agony. There is nothing to
indicate that there were any differences in the injuries and ill-treatment suffered by
the other victims.
92.
For lack of other data and because it considers it fair, the Court has accepted
the total amount claimed by the Commission for moral damages.
The amounts in Sf that the Commission claims for each victim have been adjusted by
a coefficient representing the fluctuation of domestic prices in Suriname over the
period in question. The value in florins was converted into dollars at the free market
rate of exchange and then increased to include compensatory interest, calculated at