1980 Surinamese coup d'état
Encyclopedia
The Surinamese coup d'état of 1980, usually referred to as the sergeants coup occurred on 25 February, when a group of sergeants of the Surinamese army took control of Suriname
's government. The group declared the country to be a Socialist Republic, and stated that they would collectively run the country. In spite of this, Sergeant Major
Desi Bouterse
, Chairman of the National Military Council, quickly established his rule of the country.
was forced out of office in August 1980, and several months after the coup d'état by Bouterse most of the political authority transferred to the military leadership. From then until 1988, the titular Presidents were essentially army-installed by Bouterse, who ruled as a de facto leader with few practical checks on his power.
in Paramaribo
. Fourteen of those executed were Surinamese; Frank Wijngaarde was a Dutch national. The events are known as the December murders. Desi Bouterse is alleged to be the mastermind of the killings, and has since claimed political responsibility.
In 1986 a massacre occurred in the Maroon village of Moiwana
, as part of the Suriname Guerrilla War
.
, loyal to the rebel leader Ronnie Brunswijk
, further weakened his position during the 1990s.
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...
's government. The group declared the country to be a Socialist Republic, and stated that they would collectively run the country. In spite of this, Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
Desi 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...
, Chairman of the National Military Council, quickly established his rule of the country.
Developments
President Johan FerrierJohan Ferrier
Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier was a Surinamese politician who served as the 1st President of Suriname from November 25, 1975, until August 13, 1980. He was that country's last governor before independence, from 1968 to 1975, and first president after it gained independence from the Netherlands...
was forced out of office in August 1980, and several months after the coup d'état by Bouterse most of the political authority transferred to the military leadership. From then until 1988, the titular Presidents were essentially army-installed by Bouterse, who ruled as a de facto leader with few practical checks on his power.
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 executed in Fort ZeelandiaFort Zeelandia
Fort Zeelandia may refer to either of three forts, two built by the Dutch and the other renamed by them:* Fort Zeelandia on Formosa * Fort Zeelandia at Paramaribo...
in Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
. Fourteen of those executed were Surinamese; Frank Wijngaarde was a Dutch national. The events are known as the December murders. Desi Bouterse is alleged to be the mastermind of the killings, and has since claimed political responsibility.
In 1986 a massacre occurred in the Maroon village of Moiwana
Moiwana
Moiwana is a Maroon village in the Marowijne district in the east of Suriname.The village was the scene of the Moiwana massacre on November 29, 1986, during the Suriname Guerrilla War between the Surinamese military regime, headed by Dési Bouterse and the Jungle Commando led by Ronnie Brunswijk...
, as part of the Suriname Guerrilla War
Suriname Guerrilla War
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....
.
Transition to democratic rule
Elections were held in 1987 and a new constitution was adopted, which among other things allowed Bouterse to remain in charge of the army. Dissatisfied with the government, Bouterse summarily dismissed them in 1990, by telephone. This event became popularly known as "the telephone coup". Bouterse's power began to wane after the 1991 elections however, and a brutal civil war between the Suriname army and the MaroonsSuriname Guerrilla War
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....
, loyal to the rebel leader 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...
, further weakened his position during the 1990s.