Suriname Guerrilla War
Encyclopedia
The Suriname Guerrilla War was a war
in Suriname
between 1986 and 1992 which was fought between then-army chief Dési Bouterse
and the Jungle Commando
of his former bodyguard Ronnie Brunswijk
, who originated from the Maroon
social group.
The war revolved around power over Eastern Suriname and control of the trade in cocaine
. The war had serious consequences for the Maroons (especially the Ndyuka
) and Suriname: villages were demolished, roads (including much of the eastern East-West Link
), water pipelines and power lines, schools, public buildings, clinics, and businesses were destroyed.
The period of the most intensive fighting took place between 1986 and 1989. In March 1991 a peace agreement was signed in Kourou
led by Romeo Russel in May 1992 signed Brunswijk's guerrilla army and supported by Bouterse Angulagroep, Group Mandela, Kofimakagroep, and Tucajana Amazons (led by Thomas Sabajo) peace with the Surinamese government, which was endorsed by President Venetiaan
on August 8, 1992.
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
between 1986 and 1992 which was fought between then-army chief Dési Bouterse
Dési Bouterse
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse is the 9th and current President of Suriname.As an army officer, he was the de facto leader of Suriname through most of the 1980s, serving as Chairman of the National Military Council...
and the Jungle Commando
Jungle Commando
The Jungle Commando was a guerrilla commando group in Suriname. It was founded by Ronnie Brunswijk in 1986 to ensure equal rights for Suriname's minority Maroon population.group was formed after the troops Suriname commit mass murder against 35 people Moiwana Village, near Moengo, after the ...
of his former bodyguard Ronnie Brunswijk
Ronnie Brunswijk
Ronnie Brunswijk is a Surinamese rebel leader, politician, business man, and convict. After having been the personal body guard of Desi Bouterse in the early 1980s, he turned against his former boss by forming the Jungle Commando which fought the Bouterse regime "on behalf of the Maroon...
, who originated from the Maroon
Maroon (people)
Maroons were runaway slaves in the West Indies, Central America, South America, and North America, who formed independent settlements together...
social group.
The war revolved around power over Eastern Suriname and control of the trade in cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. The war had serious consequences for the Maroons (especially the Ndyuka
Ndyuka people
The Ndyuka people, also known as Aukan people or Okanisi, are a Maroon ethnic group who live in the Eastern part of Suriname and speak the Ndyuka language...
) and Suriname: villages were demolished, roads (including much of the eastern East-West Link
East-West Link (Suriname)
The East-West Link is a road in Suriname between Albina in the eastern part of the country to Nieuw Nickerie in the western part, via the capital city of Paramaribo. The southern East-West Link connects Paramaribo with Apoera via Bitagron...
), water pipelines and power lines, schools, public buildings, clinics, and businesses were destroyed.
The period of the most intensive fighting took place between 1986 and 1989. In March 1991 a peace agreement was signed in Kourou
Kourou
Kourou is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America.Kourou is the location of the Guiana Space Centre, France and ESA's main spaceport.-Geography:...
led by Romeo Russel in May 1992 signed Brunswijk's guerrilla army and supported by Bouterse Angulagroep, Group Mandela, Kofimakagroep, and Tucajana Amazons (led by Thomas Sabajo) peace with the Surinamese government, which was endorsed by President Venetiaan
Ronald Venetiaan
Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan served as the 6th and 8th President of Suriname. His first term as president ran from 1991 to 1996 after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch...
on August 8, 1992.
Sources
- Vries, E. de, (2005) Suriname na de binnenlandse oorlog, Amsterdam: KIT Publishers, ISBN 9068324993
- Hoogbergen, W. & D. Kruijt, (2005) De oorlog van de sergeanten: Surinaamse militairen in de politiek, Amsterdam: Bakker, ISBN 9035129989