Tuesday, July 18, 2006

by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

MOENGO, Suriname: In the presence of hundreds of surviving relatives, Suriname’s president on Saturday July 15 formally apologized for the slaying of at least 39 unarmed civilians by an army unit.

The ceremony took place in a soccer stadium, in the former bauxite mining town of Moengo, 100 kilometers east of the capital, Paramaribo. The brutal killings were carried out on November 29, 1986.

The official apology to the relatives, the whole nation and the international community, is part of a July 15, 2005 ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR). In this judgment Suriname was ordered to carry out a public ceremony, whereby Suriname recognizes its international responsibility and issues an apology.

It was also ordered to pay compensation for material and moral damages to 130 Moiwana community members and surviving relatives of the victims. Each affected person was granted a sum of US$13,000.

“As representative of the Republic of Suriname, the President of Suriname solemnly and publicly declares that the state of Suriname offers its apologies to the whole Surinamese nation, in particular the surviving relatives of the victims of Moiwana, for the brutal armed attack, that has been carried out by the state, on the peaceful community of Moiwana, on November 29, 1986,” said President Ronald Venetiaan.

The apology was also directed to Matodja Gazon, leader of the Aucaners maroon tribal group (descendants of runaway African slaves) of which the victims were members.

“Wrong intentions, an erroneous decision has resulted in the nightmare of a mass murder on innocent, defenseless civilians, on behalf of the nation,” Venetiaan told the crowd of hundreds, including representatives of the international community and other officials.

Reading his statement the president further noted that he and his government had no part in the brutal killings, since another administration was in office and he also denied any personal association with those who ordered the massacre.

The now deserted village of Moiwana on November 29, 1986 was raided by an army unit as a crackdown on the so-called Jungle Commando, a rebel group which took up arms against the then ruling military government of Desi Bouterse.

Between 1986 and 1992 when a peace agreement was signed, several hundred soldiers, rebels and innocent civilians where killed, while in the interior where most of the fighting took place, bridges, roads and villages were destroyed, while several businesses were burnt to the ground.

Andre Ajentoema, 39, a survivor, whose sister and young niece were killed in the massacre, reiterated that the apology was "long overdue". In his speech he called upon the government to launch the criminal investigation into the killings as soon as possible since survivors are not feeling safe, because the culprits are still walking free.

The criminal investigation, prosecution and sentencing of the perpetrators were also part of the IACHR-ruling. In addressing the audience, justice minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi has guaranteed that the government will execute the judgment to the full extent.

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version