Pre-Crisis Phase (November 25, 1975-February 24, 1980): The Republic of Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana) formally achieved its independence from the Netherlands on November 25, 1975. Parliamentary elections were held on October 31, 1977, and the National Party Alliance (NPA) won 22 out of 39 seats in the National Assembly. The United Democratic Party (UDP) won 17 seats in the National Assembly.
Crisis Phase (February 25, 1980-July 20, 1986): The government of Prime Minister Henck Arron was overthrown in a left-wing military rebellion led by Sgt. Major Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse on February 25-27, 1980, resulting in the deaths of some 20 individuals. The eight-member National Military Council (NMC) was established on February 26, 1980. The NMC appointed Hendrick Chin Sen as prime minister on March 15, 1980. The NMC imposed a state-of-emergency, dismissed President Johan Ferrier, and suspended the constitution on August 15, 1980. Prime Minister Chin Sen was appointed as president on December 3, 1980. The military government dismissed Vice-President Andre Haakmat on January 7, 1981. President Hendrick Chin Sen resigned on February 4, 1982, and the four-member NMC headed by Commander Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse took control of the government on February 5, 1982. Lachmipersad Ramdat-Misier was appointed as provisional president on February 8, 1982. The NMC suppressed a right-wing military rebellion led by Lt. Surendre Rambocus and Lt. Henri Gorre on March 11-12, 1982. Wilfred Hawker was captured and executed for his involvement in the rebellion on March 13, 1982. On March 21, 1982, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned the NMC for violations of human rights. The NMC appointed a provisional government headed by Prime Minister Henry Neyhorst on March 31, 1982. The NMC declared martial law, and dismissed the government of Prime Minister Neyhorst on December 8, 1982. Fifteen opponents of the NMC were executed by government soldiers at Fort Zeelandia in Paramaribo on December 7-9, 1982. The Dutch government condemned the NMC and imposed economic sanctions (suspension of development assistance) against the NMC on December 10, 1982. The U.S. government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of development assistance) against the government on December 17, 1982. The Movement for the Liberation of Suriname (MLS) was established by former President Hendrick Chin Sen in opposition to the NMC in the Netherlands in January 1983. The NMC appointed Errol Alibux of the Progressive Workers’ and Farm Laborers Union (PALU) as prime minister on February 26, 1983. Government troops suppressed a rebellion against the government on November 29, 1983. Colonel Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse dismissed the government of Prime Minister Alibux on January 8, 1984, and Willem Udenhout formed an interim government as prime minister on February 2, 1984. The NMC appointed a 31-member National Assembly on January 1, 1985. The National Assembly elected Colonel Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse as head-of-government on August 2, 1985. The government lifted the state-of-emergency on February 25, 1986. Prime Minister Udenhout resigned on June 23, 1986, and Pretaapnarain (Pretaap) Radhakishun formed a government on July 17, 1986. Some 100 individuals were killed during the crisis.
Conflict Phase (July 21, 1986-March 26, 1991): The Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA) or Jungle Commando led by Ronnie Brunswijk rebelled against the government beginning on July 21, 1986. Government troops launched a military offensive against SLA rebels on September 9-10, 1986, resulting in the deaths of three SLA rebels. SLA troops captured Moengo on November 20, 1986. Government troops launched a seven-day counter-offensive against SLA rebels beginning on November 28, 1986. Government soldiers killed some 35 civilians (mostly women and children) in the village of Moiwana on November 29, 1986. The government declared a state-of-emergency on December 1, 1986. On December 16, 1986, the U.S. government condemned the government of Suriname for human rights abuses and called for the restoration of democracy. SLA rebels killed two government soldiers on January 16, 1987. Prime Minister Radhakishun resigned on February 12, 1987, and Jules Albert Wijdenbosch formed an interim government on February 13, 1987. Five individuals were killed during student demonstrations against the regime of Colonel Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse on February 17-24, 1987. SLA rebels killed three government policemen at the Fort Doedel military barracks on March 18, 1987. Colonel Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse established the National Democratic Party (NDP) on July 4, 1987. On September 22, 1987, the London-based human rights NGO, Amnesty International, condemned the Suriname government for the killing of civilians during the conflict against SLA rebels. A new constitution was approved by some 94 percent of voters in a referendum held on September 30, 1987. SLA rebels killed one government policeman in Moengo on November 24, 1987. Legislative elections were held on November 25, 1987, and the New Front for Democracy and Development (NFDD) won 40 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly. The NDP won three out of 51 seats in the National Assembly. The Dutch government sent five observers to monitor the legislative elections beginning on November 20, 1987. On December 3, 1987, the Dutch mission reported that the legislative elections had been free and fair. The Organization of American States (OAS) sent three observers to monitor the legislative elections. Government troops killed seven individuals in the village of Pokigron on December 31, 1987. Former Agriculture Minister Ramsewak Shankar was elected president and former Prime Minister Henck Arron was elected Vice-President by the National Assembly on January 12, 1988. Ramsewak Shankar was inaugurated as president on January 25, 1988. Government and SLA began negotiations in Cayenne, French Guiana on June 27, 1988, and the parties signed a ceasefire agreement on June 28, 1988. The National Assembly approved an amnesty for SLA rebels on June 1, 1989. Government and SLA representatives held negotiations in Kourou, French Guiana on July 17-21, 1989, and the parties signed a peace agreement on July 21, 1989. The National Assembly approved the peace agreement on August 8, 1989, but the agreement was not implemented. The government lifted the state-of-emergency on September 1, 1989. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) established a mission to provide repatriation assistance to Suriname refugees in French Guiana on April 20, 1990. President Ramsewak Shankar was overthrown in a military rebellion led by Colonel Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse on December 24-25, 1990. The Dutch government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of economic assistance) against the government on December 25, 1990. The government of Venezuela imposed diplomatic sanctions (suspension of diplomatic relations) and economic sanctions (trade embargo) against the government on December 25, 1990, and referred the matter to the OAS Council on December 27, 1990. The OAS Council condemned the military rebellion on December 28, 1990. Johan Kraag of the Suriname National Party (SNP) was elected as provisional president by the National Assembly on December 30, 1990. On January 31, 1991, Colonel Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse invited the Organization of American States (OAS) secretary-general to send observers to monitor upcoming legislative elections. The government and SLA rebels signed a preliminary peace agreement on March 26, 1991. Several hundred individuals were killed during the conflict. Some 13,000 individuals were displaced and some 10,000 individuals fled as refugees to French Guiana during the conflict.
Post-Conflict Phase (March 27, 1991-August 12, 2000): Legislative elections were held on May 25, 1991, and the NFDD won 30 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly. The NDP won 10 seats in the National Assembly. The OAS sent 40 observers from 16 countries to monitor the election process from February 13 to September 16, 1991. On November 13, 1991, the OAS observation mission reported that the elections had been free and fair. The European Community (EC) sent observers to monitor the legislative elections. Ronald Venetiaan of the NFDD was elected president by the National Assembly on September 7, 1991. Jules Ajodhia formed a government as prime minister on September 17, 1991. The OAS Council established a Special Mission to Suriname (mine clearing, demobilization, and electoral assistance) headed by Antonio Edgardo Reis on July 21, 1992. Representatives of the government and the SLA, as well as four other illegal armed groups, signed the Agreement for National Reconciliation and Development on August 8, 1992. Colonel Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse resigned as commander of the Suriname army on November 20, 1992. Legislative elections were held on May 23, 1996, and the ruling NFDD won 24 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly. The NDP won 16 seats in the National Assembly. Jules Wijdenbosch of the NDP was elected president, and Pretaap Radhakishun of the Movement for Freedom and Democracy (MFD) was elected vice-president by the National Assembly on September 5, 1996. The OAS sent 28 election observers headed by Edgardo Castro Rois to monitor the legislative elections from May 15 to September 14, 1996. President Wijdenbosch dismissed the coalition government on May 28, 1999. Some 20,000 individuals demonstrated against President Wijdenbosch in Paramaribo beginning on May 28, 1999. In July 1999, Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse, former military leader of Suriname, was convicted and later sentenced to eleven years in prison in the Netherlands for drug trafficking. Legislative elections were held on May 25, 2000, and the NFDD won 33 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly. The European Union (EU) sent eight long-term election observers from five countries and 20 short-term election observers from 12 countries headed by Silvana Garavelli of Italy to monitor the legislative elections between February and May 28, 2000. The OAS sent 16 observers from eleven countries headed by Colin Granderson of Trinidad & Tobago to monitor the legislative elections from May 11 to May 26, 2000. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) sent observers to monitor the legislative elections. Ronald Venetiaan of the NFDD was elected president by the National Assembly, and he was inaugurated as president on August 12, 2000.
Post-Crisis Phase (August 13, 2000-present): In January 2001, the Chinese government agreed to provide $2.5 million for the construction of a new Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Paramaribo. Legislative elections were held on May 25, 2005, and the NFDD won 23 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly. The NDP won 15 seats in the National Assembly. The CARICOM sent six observers to monitor the elections from May 21 to May 26, 2005. The OAS sent 16 observers headed by Corinne McKnight of Trinidad & Tobago to monitor the elections. President Ronald Venetiaan was re-elected by the 891-member United People’s Assembly on August 3, 2005, and he was inaugurated as president on August 12, 2005. The Chinese government agreed to provided development assistance ($2.5 million) to the government of Suriname on December 27, 2005. On November 30, 2007, Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse and 24 other individuals went on trial for the murder of 15 opponents of the military government in December 1982. Legislative elections were held on May 25, 2010, and the Mega Combination Coalition, including the NDP, won 23 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly. The NFDD won 14 seats in the National Assembly. The OAS sent 26 observers from 16 countries to monitor the legislative elections. Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse of the NDP was elected president by the National Assembly on July 19, 2010, and he was inaugurated as president on August 12, 2010. On February 28, 2012, the Chinese government agreed to provided development assistance ($4.8 million) to the government of Suriname. On April 4, 2012, the National Assembly voted 28-12 in favor of granting amnesty to Desiré Delano “Dési” Bouterse and 24 other individuals who were on trial for the murder of 15 opponents of the military government in December 1982. As a result of the amnesty vote by the Suriname National Assembly, the Dutch government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of development assistance) against the government of Suriname on April 11, 2012. On June 15, 2012, the Iranian government agreed to provide $1.2 million in development assistance to the government of Suriname.
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