Some of the cases of grave and systematic human rights violations (80s - middle 90s):

1. the 8 December massacre in 1982. The National Army of Suriname arrested 15 civilians and had the victims executed on that date.
2. the Moiwana massacre in November 1986. The victims are approximately 50 civilians of the Maroon settlement Moiwana. The victims include children, (pregnant) women and elderly by an unit of the National Army.
3. the Tammanredjo killings in 1987. Heavily armed men (allegedly paramilitary) arrested, tortured and executed three policemen at Tammanredjo, a town in the District of Commewijne.
4. the murder of police-inspector H. Gooding in 1990. On a Sunday morning, the lifeless body of police inspector H. Gooding was discovered, at approximately 20 meters distance from the entrance of the Cabinet of the commander of the National Army. The night before inspector Gooding is said to have had a heated debate in the head quarters of the Military Police on a matter regarding the arrest and detention of a military by the civilian police. The Military is said to strongly reject the idea of a military being arrested and detained by the civilian police.
5. the murder of the two body guards of the leader of the rebel group the Jungle Commando in 1990, Ronnie Brunswijk,. Ronnie Brunswijk was invited by the President of the Republic of Suriname to Paramaribo for peace negotiations. Brunswijk visited the Cabinet of the Commander upon invitation. He was accompanied by his two body guards and members of his negotiating team. The two body guards were murdered allegedly by the high ranking military officers Melvin Linscheer (presently heading the National Security Council) and Rupert Christopher (presently Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname in Brazil). The body guards are said to be unarmed at the moment of the murder. The commander of the National Army is at present appointed ‘Advisor of State’. A newly established position, probably the highest position to which one can be appointed in the executive branch of the Government without being elected by the people.
6. the disappearances of Piko Sabajo and others in 1990. On February 19th, 1997 four indigenous peoples were arrested by the Military Police. They were accused of rebellion against the leaders of the rebel group Tukajana Amazones. This rebel group is said to have been established by the leadership of the National Army.

Moiwana'86 publishes an annual human rights reports on Suriname. The 1995-1997 versions are available. The report reviews the human rights affairs in Suriname and discusses issues such as the government's position regarding human rights, participation of civilians in the administration, the civil, social and economic rights, equality and non-discrimination and the rights of nations and minorities.
 

The Aloeboetoe ea. case

On December, 31st, 1987, more than 20 unarmed Maroons were attacked by a group of militaries at Atjoni in the District Sipaliwini. They were tortured and beaten with the butt of their weapons. Some of the Maroons were wounded by bayonets and knifes. The reason of the arrest is the suspicion being a member of the Jungle-Commando. Afterwards the arrested persons were set free, except seven. The persons still under arrest were: Daison Aloeboetoe, Deede-Manoe Aloeboetoe, Mikuwendje Aloeboetoe, Richenel Voola (known as Aside), Indie Hendrik Banai, Bernard Tiopo en Asipee Adame. The seven persons, including a minor of 15 years, were dragged, blindfolded and transported in a military vehicle to Tjongalangapasi, in the direction of Paramaribo, capital of Suriname. About 30 kilometers further the vehicle stopped. There, the victims were given a shovel with the task to dig a hole. Mr. Aside could escape the massacre at the very last moment. During his escape the militaries fired on him and got wounded by a bullet in his right feet. Aside was carried to the hospital, but died a few months later.

The Aloeboetoe ea. case was filed to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (hereinafter: the Court) by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter: the Commission) on August, 27th, 1990 upon the request of Moiwana’86 – Human Rights Organization Suriname.

The Commission has confirmed in its document that "the Government of Suriname has violated the following articles :

article 1, article 2, article 4 lid 1,

article 5 lid 1, article 7 lid 1, article 7 lid 3, article 25 sections 1 and 2 of the American Convention on Human Rights. The Commission asked by virtue of these articles that in this case the Court decides pursuant to the articles of the Convention, determines the responsibility of the violation and attaching a reasonable compensation to the relatives of the victims.

The court ultimately ordered the following reparations tot commence in 1994:

- U$ 453.102,- ( payable in U$ Dollars or Dutch Florins) for the victims' children, spouses and parents;

- The creation of two non-taxable trust funds at the Suritrust Bank in Paramaribo-one for the children and the other for the adults;

- The establishment of a fiduciary committee called the "Foundation", composed of seven persons to administer the funds as trustee;

- A one time U$ 4.000,- contribution from the government to cover start up costs of the Foundation;

- The re-opening of a school and a medical dispensary in the village of Gujaba, village where the majority of the families reside;

- The denial of all costs, excepts those borne directly by the families and Moiwana'86;

- A requirement that the Court supervise compliance with this decision.

The Ashok Gangaram Panday case

Mr. Choeramoenispersad Gangaram Panday (Ashok Gangaram Panday) was arrested by members of the Military Police, when he arrived at Zanderij Airport (the International Airport) in Suriname, on Saturday, November, 5th, 1988 and detained in a shelter for deportees located of the Military Police at Zanderij. The victim was kept in detention for some days. His lifeless body was discovered on the third day in detention.

The case Ashok Gangaram Panday was brought to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights upon the request of the family of the victim. Suriname was charged with the violation of the following article of the American Convention:

article 1 (Obligation to Respect Rights),

article 2 (Domestic Legal Effects),

article 4 (1) (Right to Life),

article 5 (1 & 2) (Right to Humane Treatment),

article 7 (1, 2 & 3) (Right to Personal Liberty) and

article 25 (1 & 2) (The Right to Judicial Protection).

The Commission requested the Court " to decide this case in accordance with the terms of the Convention and to fix responsibility for the violation described herein and award just compensation tot the victim's next of kin".

The Court declares unanimously,

1. that Suriname has violated its obligations to respect and to ensure the right to personal liberty set forth in article 7.2 of the Convention, read in conjunction with article 1.1 thereof, to the detriment of Ashok Gangaram Panday.

2. Dismisses the request of the Commission that the State of Suriname be found responsible for the violation of articles 5.1, 5.2, 25.1 and 2 of the Convention, to the detriment of Mr. Ashok Gangaram Panday.

By four votes to three

3. Dismisses the request of the Commission that the State of Suriname be found responsible for the violation of article 4.1 of the Convention, to the detriment of Mr. Ashok Gangaram Panday.

4. Sets the amount that the State of Suriname must pay to the persons indicated in paragraph 70 of this judgement, and as stipulated therein at US$10.000,-(ten thousand dollars of the United States of America) of the equivalent amount in Dutch florins, payable within six months of the date of this judgement.

5. Decides that the Court shall supervise the payment of the indemnification ordered and shall only close the file thereafter.

6. Decides that there shall be no award of costs.`
 

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