Suriname Indigenous Groups seek release of six men charged with May 2023 riots

The Indigenous Collective Suriname (IKSur) has called for the release of six men currently on trial for their involvement in the May 2023 riots in Pikin Saron. A verdict is expected to be delivered later today.

The violence erupted on May 2, 2023, when gunmen attacked a police station in Pikin Saron, located south of the capital, Paramaribo. During the ensuing shootout, two men were killed, and the police station was set on fire. The unrest has sparked ongoing tensions in the region, particularly among Indigenous and local communities.

IKSur’s call for the men’s release reflects concerns about the fairness of the trial and the broader social and political context in which the unrest occurred. Indigenous communities in Suriname have historically faced marginalization, and the riots in Pikin Saron have brought longstanding grievances to the forefront, including issues related to land rights, access to resources, and representation.

As the trial nears its conclusion, the verdict will be closely watched, not only for its legal implications but also for its impact on the relationship between Indigenous communities and the Surinamese government. How the state handles this case could set a significant precedent for addressing similar tensions in the future.

The police said then that several employees of the state-owned mining company, Grassalco which operates a gold mine in the area, had been taken hostage by the gunmen.

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Police said that the insurgents belong to the Kaliña Amerindian tribe who rioted because they were dissatisfied with the alleged treatment of the indigenous people by the Surinamese government.

In a statement, IKSur chairman, Lloyd HF Read, said that the living conditions of the indigenous people in 2024 are subject to all kinds of discrimination and unjust actions by the Surinamese government.

“As the first inhabitants, we were driven from the coastal plain to the interior by the colonials. After Independence, all governments continued discrimination and unjust behavior, through educational disadvantages, inadequate medical facilities and a lack of sustainable
economic development.

“Now even the areas to which we were driven without any recognition of our land rights are being issued to multinationals and local entrepreneurs. Friends and family of politicians also benefit from obtaining our land,” Read said.

He said that in 2015, the State of Suriname was internationally condemned through the Kalina Lokono Verdict, but that the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country “ignores its obligations under the verdict and continues its practices of exploitation and oppression”.

In the case Kaliña and Lokono Peoples v. Suriname, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruled in favour of the Kalina and Lokono peoples, finding that Suriname violated their rights in several ways.

IACHR said the state failed to grant title to the Kalina and Lokono peoples’ territory, violating their right to collective property. The court ordered the state to consult with the people to establish the boundaries of their territories and grant them titles.

In its statement, the IKSur said taking action against ‘these forms of discrimination, restriction of freedom of movement, environmental pollution and poisoning of our waters, has resulted in the murder of two captured Indigenous people by the police on May 2, 2023.’

“Following the murders, indigenous organizations and social groups have appealed for an independent forensic pathological investigation, which has been refused for inexplicable reasons to date, while forensic research has provided valuable information in other murder cases in Suriname.

“The police, or the investigation department, have identified six men as suspects. These suspects have been in pre-trial detention for 1.5 years, which is unacceptable under Inter-American Law, and are in detention under appalling conditions.”

The IKSur said lawyers have tried several times to obtain provisional release for the suspects, but this has been firmly rejected by the judge.

“Without a thorough investigation of the murders and the events, the Public Prosecutor is of the opinion that the natives have violated the rights of entrepreneurs and should be made an example of, by means of the most severe demand possible (15 years) and all conceivable charges (34).”

The IKSur said that while the authorities are “busy” trying to convict the six men, the investigation into the deaths of the two Natives Dijksteel and Wolfjager village “has still not started and the requested independent modern forensic pathological investigation is being ignored”.

It said that Surname has labelled the men as “terrorists solely to influence society,” adding “This shows how the government treats us as a very vulnerable group and we do not think and hope that you will look away from this injustice.

“The only thing we as indigenous people ask for is equal treatment and therefore also in the area of justice. We also ask the religious and social organisations to make their voices heard now and in the future.

“We ask Tamushi/Adajali, or the Supreme Judge, to grant the earthly judge all wisdom in making a decision that is based on justice, established facts and circumstances,” the IKSr added.