1980 Surinamese coup d'état

Coordinates: 5°51′8″N 55°12′14″W / 5.85222°N 55.20389°W / 5.85222; -55.20389
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

1980 Surinamese coup d'état
Part of the Cold War

Map of Suriname.
Date25 February 1980
Location
Paramaribo, Suriname
5°51′8″N 55°12′14″W / 5.85222°N 55.20389°W / 5.85222; -55.20389
Result

Coup attempt succeeds.

Belligerents

Government of Suriname

Supported by:
 Guyana
 Venezuela
 United States

Surinamese Armed Forces

Supported by:
 Brazil
 China
 Cuba
 Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Johan Ferrier
Henck Arron		 Dési Bouterse
1980 Surinamese coup d'état is located in Suriname
1980 Surinamese coup d'état
class=notpageimage|
Nexus of coup in Paramaribo
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Bouterse as the Commander of the Armed Forces in 1985.

The 1980 Surinamese coup d'état, usually referred to as the Sergeants' Coup (

freedom of press, a ban on political parties (from 1985), a restriction on the freedom of assembly, a high level of government corruption and the summary executions of political opponents.[2]

Background

The Netherlands granted

Suriname independence on 25 November 1975.[3] It was marked by social unrest, economic depression, and rumors of corruption.[4] The hastily created Suriname National Army had many non-commissioned officers who tried to unionize[5] and complained about corruption[3] and poor pay.[5] Prime Minister Henck Arron refused to recognise them and arrested the ringleaders, who were to go to trial on 26 February 1980.[6] Elections were also scheduled for March 1980.[5]

Coup

Main article: National Military Council (Suriname)

On 25 February 1980, the coup soldiers took control of the military camps in Paramaribo and arrested superiors who opposed them. The main resistance occurred at the Central Police Station, which was burned to the ground. After the police surrendered, the coup leaders took control.[7] Arron was then imprisoned on charges of corruption.[8]

President

checks on his power.[10]

December murders and Moiwana massacre

On 8 December 1982, a group of fifteen academics, journalists, lawyers, union leaders and military officials who opposed the military rule in Suriname were snatched from their beds and brought to

Frank Wijngaarde was a Dutch national. The events are known as the December murders.[11]

In 1986 Bouterse's soldiers killed at least 39 citizens, mostly children and women, of the Maroon village of Moiwana,[12] as part of the Surinamese Interior War, which was fought between the soldiers of Bouterse and the Jungle Commando led by Ronnie Brunswijk.[13]

Transition to democratic rule

A new constitution was adopted via referendum in 1987. Bouterse remained in charge of the army, but elections were held later that year. Dissatisfied with the government, Bouterse overthrew them on 24 December 1990 during another coup. The event became popularly known as "the telephone coup."[14]

In 1991, elections returned to Suriname, and the New Front party gained 30 of the 51 parliament seats.[15] Ronald Venetiaan, a fierce opponent of Bouterse, became president. In 1996, Jules Wijdenbosch was elected as president of Suriname on behalf of Bouterse's party, the National Democratic Party (NDP). In 2000 and 2005, Ronald Venetiaan was elected as president of Suriname.[16] Dési Bouterse himself returned to power as president in 2010.[17]

National holiday

Monument commemorating the coup.

After becoming president of Suriname, Bouterse designated February 25, the anniversary of the day of the coup d'état, as a national holiday.[17] On the day of the coup, Bouterse's soldiers burned down the Central Police Station of Suriname. The remains of the building now form the Monument of the Revolution, where the wreath-laying ceremony would be held.[18]

Bouterse's party lost the 2020 election,[19] and the new government did away with the February 25 public holiday.[20]

References

  1. ^ "The World Factbook". cia.gov. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  2. ^ "BBC News – Timeline: Suriname". bbc.co.uk. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Henck Arron (1936–2000)". Historiek (in Dutch). December 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. NPO
    Focus (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "The Kingdom Of The Netherlands In The Caribbean. Suriname 1954 – 2004: Kroniek van een illusie". Rozenberg Quarterly (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  6. ^ Caribbean Review (1980). "The Year of the Sergeants". University of Florida. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  7. JSTOR 10.1163/j.ctt1w8h0wm
    .
  8. ^ Gunson, Phil (24 January 2001). "Obituary Henck Arron". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  9. ^ De Vries, Paul (15 August 1980). "President Afgezet". Limburgs Dagblad (in Dutch). p. 1 – via Delpher.
  10. ISBN 978-0-19-022863-7
    , retrieved 22 February 2023
  11. ^ "The Right to Life and the Right to Personal Integrity". Report on the Human Rights Situation in Suriname. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 5 October 1983. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  12. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Dutch Police arrest man on suspicion of war crimes Surinamese Interior War – News item – Public Prosecution Service". www.prosecutionservice.nl. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  14. ISSN 1879-4750
    .
  15. ^ "Suriname General Election Results 1991". www.caribbeanelections.com. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Ronald Venetiaan: 'Ik treed terug om politieke redenen'". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 16 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  17. ^
    ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Bouterse eert plegers staatsgreep 1980". Het Parool (in Dutch). 24 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Suriname's president loses election, leaves economic chaos". Reuters. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Dag van de Revolutie geen feestdag meer in Suriname". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Flemish). 9 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2023.

External links

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