International media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders is worried about alleged telephone threats that reporter Ivan Cairo of the Paramaribo-based daily De Ware Tijd in Suriname received on Thursday.

The alleged threats were in connection with several articles about the unexplained disappearance of 90 kilogrammes of cocaine from a police station after it was seized.

Cairo is also the ReportersWithout Borders Suriname correspondent.

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the threats and is asking the authorities to take all necessary measures to protect the reporter.

The group also wants the authorities to investigate the origin of the threats in order to reassure all Surinamese journalists who cover such sensitive subjects.

The media watchdog said without a free press, its impossible to combat drug trafficking and corruption.

Justice and police minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi and attorney general Subhaas Punwasi have been advised of the threats.

Meanwhile Cairo said he has not been back to work since receiving the threats.
He said he has been in touch with the attorney-general but is yet to receive any protection from the authorities.

Suriname was ranked 42 out of 175 countries in the 2009 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.