INFO-SURINAM

In 1492 the Spanish discovered the Guyana’s, bud it was not until mid 1600 when the first trading posts were established. The actual colonization of Surinam started in 1651 when the British governor Lord Francis Willougby from Barbados send planters to Surinam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1665, when the States of Zeeland expelled British from the former British Guyana and Suriname the first British colonization came to an end. During the peace negotiations that followed, it was decided that Suriname would be exchanged for New Amsterdam, now New York. After a power struggle in Europe between England, France and the Dutch Republic, Surinam was once again in the hands of the British. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1813 and the subsequent peace negotiations, the British had to give Surinam back to the Dutch. The colonization of Surinam lasted until 1975 when Surinam became independent.

 

 

 

 

 

The supply of African slaves by the Dutch West Indian Company earned no beauty prize. In 1863 the Netherlands was one of the last countries who abolished slavery. Many Marons dit not want to work on the plantations, contract workers from various parts of the world were brought to Surinam. This was also the base of the current multicultural Surinamese population.

 

 

In 1975, Surinam became independent and the Republic of Surinam was a fact. Many Surinamese did not agree with the way this independence was handled and left with their Dutch passport to the Netherlands to build a new life. Till today still 40% of the Surinamese population are living in the Netherlands. A large number of Surinamese still see the Netherlands as the promised land, others see the Dutch Surinamese as compatriots who have abandoned there country in times when they where needed to build the new republic.

 

The period after Surinam became independent has been one of trial and error. In 1980 a number of non commissioned officers of the Suriname National Army, led by Dési Bouterse committed a military coup. This coup was a relief for many Surinamese, they thought that they where finally released of the corrupt officials and politicians. Unfortunately Bouterse did not restored the democratie oposition began to grow. After the visit of Maurice Bishop, the former political leader of Grenada on December 8-1982, 15 opponents of the military regime were executed at Fort Zeelandia. After the December massacre the Dutch goverment stopped paying development funds. The discontent due to the policy of the army increased. A jungle commando led by a former bodyguard of Bouterse (Ronny Brunswijk) started to put pressure on the national army. The civil war mainly took place around the bauxite mines and Maroon communities in eastern Surinam. During this period many of the Maroons fled to French Guyana.

 

1987 Democratic elections were held the National Democratic Party (NDP) established by Bouterse lost the election and the New Democratic Front (NDF) wins. The influence of army leader Bouterse remains, supported by the Indians Bouterse started to create unrest and the Indians turned away from the sitting government. Christmas Eve 1990  the national army committed a new coup this coup is better known as the phone coup, with one phone call the military send the government home and took back power.

 

During the elections in 1991 the NDP of Bouterse wins, 12 of the 51 seats in the National Assembly. The new front a group of several parties remains the largest in Surinam. Ronald Venitiaan former Minister of Education once again became the new President of the Republic of Suriname a period of economic reconstruction started.

 

At the new elections in 1996 the NDP of Bouterse wins and Jules Wijdenbosch became the new president of Surinam. He did not remain in office very long after the people started strikes and expressed their displeasure, he had to write new elections. Convinced of his popularity Wijdenbosch gave the order voor new elections but lost. The New Front wins  and fore the third time Venitiaan became the President of Suriname. In 2005 New Front wins again and Venitiaan remains president of Surinam.

 

Deu to betrayal of two coaliton partners of the new front Bouterse becommes president of the republic of Surinam. 40% Of the Surinam people voted for the mega combination of Bouterse that is not a mayority bud with the help of Ronny Brunswijk and Paul Somahardjo the mega combination created the neseccary mayority for parlement. Bouterse is stil on trial for the december murders and there is a international warant for his arest for smuggel drugs to the Netherlands.