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OEA/Ser.L/V/II.76
ANNUAL
REPORT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION RESOLUTION Nº 22/89 CASE 10.124 SURINAME September 27, 1989 HAVING
SEEN: 1. The petition
received by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on October 8, 1987,
according to which: BACKGROUND
INFORMATION: 1.
The area under discussion is known as Tjongalangapassie. At the 78
kilometers mark on the road between Brownsweg and Pokigron, in the Brokopondo/Sipaliwini
District. This area is inhabited by the Saramaka Maroons or Bush Negroes. This
road is the major line for communication for the Saramaka people in the south to
the urban coastal area. The road is of great importance since the construction
of the dam prohibits safe and easy transportation by traditional boats. After
the construction of the lake, flooding of considerable areas of the Saramaka
territory and transmigration, many shifted to prepare their agriculture fields
along the Tjongalangapassie. 2.
As a consequence many camps (small temporary settlements) arose in this
environment. Residents from the following villages are entitled to settle there
and grow their crops: Lispansi - I; Lispansi - II; Jaw Jaw; Kajapati; Amakkakondä;
Pokigron; Gingistonoe; Pamboko; Kapasikëlë; Pamboko-Biudumatu; Duwata;
Banavoukondë; Bëkiokondë; Pikipada; Gujaba. Saramaka
Maroons living in other places might get permission to settle and grow their
crops in this environment. From: Heikununu; Masiakiki; Slee; Brownsweg area;
and, Paramaribo. 3.
The schedule of agricultural production in the area or in the Maroon
society, in general, is such that while men are preparing the fields for the
next season, women are harvesting the previous fields and planting new crops
like ground nuts and ochre in the new fields in preparation. These go on
simultaneously. Such is generally the programme in the months of August and
September. Mid-August till end of September is school vacation period. Besides,
schools in this part of the country have been closed for almost a year now. All
members of the family including children and those forming small vocational
cooperatives are to be found in the fields, working from the early morning till
late in the afternoon. Many people could, therefore, be found on this road and
this area in the August-September period. 4.
This area also became a hiding ground for residents of the Brownsweg
villages. Whenever the military approach they flee to the dense forests here.
The Jungle Commando also has a camp in this area at Km 49. OCCURRENCES:
5.
We first learned about heavy fighting between the National Army and the
Jungle Commando warriors from the Government news agency SNA in Paramaribo. They
reported that heavy fighting took place at Tjongalangapassie on 10 September
1987. A camp of the Jungle Commando was destroyed; goods confiscated and forty
warriors killed, the news agency said. A short while thereafter came the cry of
distress (19 September 1987) from “Aide Medicale Internationale” based in
Paris. They reported a massacre of more than forty Saramaka Maroons in the area
of the Tjongalangapassie. Those killed were not Jungle Commando warriors but
civilians. Men, women, and children were killed by the Military of the National
Army, the report said. 6.
Accounts from eyewitness confirmed that: i.
The Jungle Commando had left that area since the first week of June 1987.
They had left behind three camp watchmen. Only sporadic patrol of small units
(of less than seven warriors) could be seen from time to time. ii.
There has been no fighting between the National Army and the Jungle
Commando warriors between 10 and 20 September in this area. iii.
A message of the army was given out meant for warning every non-Jungle
Commando warrior to leave the area before 10 September. This message was not,
however, announced publicly. We have been told that the message never arrived. iv.
Until 15 October 1987, it was strictly forbidden to every- one to enter
the road without special permission from the military. It was also not possible
to collect the corpses or skeletons or other remainders of their own family
without the special permission. No search or identification of bodies of family
members was permitted. The permission could be requested at Berg-en-Dal, 17 Km
from Brownsweg in the direction of Paramaribo. Some of those on the road
witnessed an enormous amount of vultures and the unbearable stench of corpses. v.
The fact that the mission of the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights was not able to visit Brownsweg prevented a meeting with first hand
witnesses of the alleged massacre. The Government indicated that it was not in a
position to provide security arrangements necessary for the visit of this
mission. 7.
After questioning two persons directly involved in the occurrence and
many others directly affected by these, we arrive at the conclusion that
killings of innocent civilians took place at the Tjongalangapassie between 10
and 30 September 1987. Though not in a battle members of the Jungle Commando
might have been killed in this area. All those killed in that period are
primarily if not all Bush Negroes. Of a total of 20 (twenty) of whom three could
be considered involved in the civil war are registered. The others could not be
identified. There has been no systematic search in the area as yet. These
findings or discoveries should therefore be considered accidental. This and
unanimous opinion of informers give ground to believe that there has been a
massacre of Saramaka Maroons by the National Army, involving much more victims
than counted at the massacre of Maroons in Moniwana in the afternoon of
Saturday, 20 November 1986. 8.
Following are some information on victims discovered by accident: CASE
01: ATANSO,
Male Age
22, son of Main & Swaja Adiembo Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapssie Km 10 Killing
date
30 September 1987 CASE
02: DIEKO, Edmundo
Male, from the Villa of Pamboko Age
17, son of Metty Dieko and Rení Aboikoni Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapssie Km 49 Killing
date
11 September 1987 Remarks
Probably Jungle Commando Camp watchman CASE
03: DONOE, Ajajo Roël
Male Age
35 Address
Brownsweg-Kadjoe Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Km 18 Killing
date
11 September 1987 Remarks
Pickup destroyed. Robbed 3000
Guilders; hunting gun; driver’s license; passport. See also Case 13. CASE
04: FINKI, Amonie Pantooli
Male, from the Village of Lispansie Age
58, son of Mamma Malie and Wakka Wai Address
Paramaribo Killing
area discovered Near landing-place of the
Village of Pokigron Killing
date
18 September 1987 Remarks
He was on his way back to his village, returning from the village of his
wife’s family after preparatory work for the annual agricultural field work.
He was accompanied by his two sons-in-law (Asoetikoekoe and Dinda) and his son
(of whom we have no name available). They
were fired upon while in their boat. This killing happened during the two day
visit of Commander-in-Chief, leader of the Revolution and head of the Government
of Suriname, Lieutenant Col. D.D.
Bouterse to the vil- lage of Pokigron. The companions of Mr. Finki escaped, his
son was hurt. Occupation
Watchman in Paramaribo. CASE
05: FINKI, Hugo Paiti Male Age
21, son of Suüku & Fanjí Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Km 16 Killing
date
11 September 1987 CASE
06: GAJAGO
Male Age
Son of Gajagö of the Village of Pinpin Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Killing
date
11 September 1987 CASE
07: GAJAGO
Female Age
2, daughter of Gajagö of Pinpin Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Killing
date
11 September 1987 CASE
08: MAIN, Baabaa (alias Kapiten Faka) Male, from
Amakkakondë Age
21, son of Boddo Main Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Km 49 Killing
date
11 September 1987 Remarks
Probably Jungle Commando Camp
watchman CASE
09: METISEN, Boisi
Male from Godo Age
38, son of Soemato & Godo Address
Vulcanusstraat 38 Paramaribo
Profession
Aluminium potter Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Km 10 Killing
date
30 September 1987 Remarks
See also Case 14 CASE
10: PAM A TJOK, Nagwëtë
Male Age
35, son of Ameïkan (alias Dondoko) Address
Village of Pinpin Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Km 49 Killing
date
11 September 1987 Remarks
Probably Jungle Commando Camp
watchman CASE
11: POEKETIE, William Andeloe
Male Age
23, son of Apajaka Poeketie and Lonei Amokkoo Adjako Address
Kajapatie Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Km 54 Killing
date
11 September 1987 CASE
12: VREDE, Desman Male Age
37, son of Telma Vrede- Ewijk and Sofnat Vrede Address
Brownsweg-Nieuw Ganzee Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Killing
date
10 September 1987 CASE
13: Waldie
Male Age
17 Address
Brownsweg-Kadjoe Killing
area discovered
Tjongalangapassie Km 18 Killing
date
11 September 1987 Remarks
He was probably killed together with Donoe, Ajajo Roël (Case 3) CASE
14: At
the Tjongalangapassie a body was discovered. Some say it belongs to a member of
the Metisen family (See Case 09). Probably killed in September 1987. CASE
15: Woman
and Child The
body of a woman of about 40 years of age, and next to her the body of an
approximately 6 years old child. The body of the woman showed signs of being
raped. Close to her there was a basket with padi (dropped). This discovery was
made off Km 54. The woman and child were probably killed on 11 September 1987. CASE
16:
A Child voice warning A
soldier made the following statement regarding this case: “On our way from Km
32 to Pokigron we fired with heavy weapons into the forest on both sides of the
road in front of us. This was on 11 September. We destroyed and set on fire
almost every agricultural field and camp in sight, making sure we killed instead
of being killed. Those who were lucky to have learned beforehand of the presence
of the military left the area in time as well as those who had their
agricultural fields and camps deep in the forest beyond the reach of our bullets
were lucky. We fired constantly until Km 48. The only sound we heard belonged to
our machine guns. The ground under our wheels trembled. The noise was heavy. At
Km 48 we stopped firing. Then only did we hear a voice. It was the voice of a
child all right. It shouted in Saramaka a determined warning. I warn you,
don’t kill me. The voice repeated itself twice. I warn you, do not kill me. I
warn you, do not kill me. A soldier rushed in the direction of the voice. He
took with him the hospital orderly. After a short while they returned. Five to
ten minutes had then passed. They brought out no child or adult Maroon. No
living or dead persons did they return with. I think all of us were shocked and
more. We proceeded on our way. We stopped the shooting for a while. I am sure it
was the voice of a child less than ten.” CASE 17:
Three young men of the village of Gijaba disappeared. They are said to be
rastamen. They disappeared after 10 September. CASE 18:
One resident of the village of Jaw Jaw has disappeared since 10 September
1987. CASE
19:
One Basia (of the village of....) has disappeared since 20 September
1987. CASE 20: One boy of the village
of Brownsweg-Kadjoe 14-15 years of age has disappeared. He is the son of Lafoemë
or a resident of the camp of Lafoemë. Lafoemë has his camp at Km 25, 5 at the
Tjongalangapassie. Our informer said that when the boy and others discovered
camp of Lafoemë, he then went to warn Lafoemë. They came across the military.
They shot at the boy and his companions. The others managed to escape. The young
boy was killed. P.S.
The
occurrences said to have happened in Pokigron, actually took place primarily on
the 79 Km road between Brownsweg and Pokigron. This road is known to the
Saramaka Maroons as Tjongalangapassie. Tjongalanga is the name of the company
that built this road. One man, Amonie Finki (See Case 04) was shot and killed
near the landing-place of Pokigron. 2. The
transmission of that complaint to the Government of Suriname in the note of
November 17, 1987, requesting it to provide such information as it deemed
pertinent, as well as any information that would make it possible to ascertain
whether, in this case, the remedies of domestic law had been exhausted. 3. A copy of the
same note and the pertinent parts of the complaint were also sent to the Mission
of the Government of Suriname to the Organization of American States on the same
date. 4. The
communication of November 17, 1987, to the Government of Suriname was repeated
on February 9, 1988. 5. The repetition
of the request for information made in the note of February 9, 1988, informed
the Government of Suriname that should such information not be provided within a
period of thirty (30) days, pursuant to Article 42 of the Regulations, the facts
reported would be considered to be true. CONSIDERING:
a. That the
Government of Suriname did not reply to the request for information made by the
Commission concerning this case despite an expressed written reminder. b. That a
Resolution was adopted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on March
4, 1988, Resolution Nº 6/88, and duly sent to the Government of Suriname on
March 30, 1988, granting a 60 day period to inform the Commission of measures
taken to implement this Resolution. c. That the
Resolution was based on Article 42 of the Commission’s Regulations which
provides: Article
42. Presumption
The
facts reported in the petition whose pertinent parts have been transmitted to
the government of the State in reference shall be presumed to be true if, during
the maximum period set by the Commission under the provisions of Article 34
paragraph 5, the government has not provided the pertinent information, as long
as other evidence does not lead to a different conclusion. d. That the
Government of Suriname thereafter sent a note dated May 19, 1988, to the
Commission regarding the Resolution which stated, inter alia: The
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Suriname to the Organization of
American States presents his compliments to the Executive Secretary of the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and upon instructions received from
the Government of Suriname has the honour to inform the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights with reference to the Resolutions concerning cases Nº
9778, 10.116, 10.117, 10.118, 10.119, and 10.124 the following: The
Government of the Republic of Suriname has taken due note of the contents of
aforementioned Resolutions and will seriously endeavour to act upon the
recommendations contained therein. Mindful
of the gravity of the cases cited, the Government intends to carry out a further
investigation into those cases. The
Government is aware, however, that a thorough investigation of alleged
violations of human rights, which would have occurred during the internal
conflict since July 1986, is a most difficult and time consuming exercise. The
Goverment is nevertheless determined to do everything within its power to serve
the cause of justice. The
Government also intends to carry out its obligations with respect to all victims
of human rights abuses. e. The Commission,
in reply to this note, advised the Government on June 9, 1988, in pertinent
part: On
behalf of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, I am pleased to respond
to your note of May 1988, in which you inform the Commission that Your
Excellency’s Government intends to seriously endeavor to act upon the
recommendations contained in the Resolutions steaming from Cases 9778, 10.116,
10.117, 10.118, 10.119, and 10.124. Moreover, Your Excellency’s statement that
the Government intends to carry out a thorough investigation into those cases in
order to serve the cause of justice is most heartening. Because
the Commission will be meeting in September of this year and will necessarily
have to decide whether to include those Resolutions in its 1987-88 Annual
Report, it is very important that the Commission be advised in a timely way of
the actions taken by Your Excellency’s Government with respect to said cases. f. That the
Government, on August 19, 1988, sent the following note to the Commission
concerning this case: The
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Suriname to the Organization of
American States presents his compliments to the Executive Secretary of the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and with reference to the latter’s
notes concerning Cases 10.115, 10.117, 10.118, 10.119, 10.124, 9820, as well as
to the note dated May 19, 1988, has the honour, upon instructions received from
the Government of Suriname to further communicate the following. An
inquiry at the proper judicial authorities into the abovementioned cases
revealed that no complaints have been filed. Since the Office of the Public
Prosecutor has no knowledge of abovementioned cases, it is not possible to
provide satisfactory answers to the questions submitted by the Commission. The
information as contained in the notes of the Commission is however not
sufficient to enable the Office of the Public Prosecutor to make thorough
inquiries into these cases. The Government of Suriname would therefore
appreciate being provided with any additional information, which the Commission
might have at its disposal and which might facilitate such investigations.
Needless to say that this information will be dealt with in the strictest
confidence. Nevertheless
the Office of the Public Prosecutor is attempting to gather information, in
order to investigate these alleged violations. In this respect the Government of
Suriname would like to state that the continuation of the hostilities in the
area, where the alleged violations occurred, is not conducive to an
investigation. g. That despite
the assurances provided in the foregoing notes, no further investigation has
been conducted and no further information has been provided to the Commission by
the Government on this case. h. That the
Commission thereafter received testimony regarding this and similar cases during
its on-site visit to Suriname in December of 1988, and that the testimony
effectively corroborates the original complaint, specifically with respect to
Army repression of Maroons in geographical area and time frame in which this and
similar violations occurred. i. That the
Commission was told by the acting Attorney General of Suriname, during its
December 1988 on-site visit, that the Government was unable to investigate this
matter. j. That the
Commission is satisfied that the Government has failed to make a good faith
effort to investigate the allegations in this case and to punish those
responsible for its occurrence. k. That it was
impossible for the complainants to exhaust domestic remedies in this matter
since the authorities that would have been responsible for the investigation,
namely the military police, form part of the military establishment accused of
the violations in question, and that it can reasonably be deduced that the
inaction of military in this and other cases clearly demonstrates an
unwillingness to investigate, prosecute, and punish those responsible for the
violations. THE
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, RESOLVES: 1. To presume true
the facts denounced in the communication of October 8, 1987, concerning the
massacre at Tjongalangapassie, during September, 1987. 2. To declare that
this constitutes a very serious violation of the right to life (Article I) of
the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, notwithstanding the
fact that it occurred before the democratically elected civilian Government took
office in January, 1988. 3. To recommend to
the Government of Suriname that it proceed, as soon as possible, to carry out an
investigation of the event and punish those responsible therefor with the most
severe penalties established in its domestic legislation. 4. To declare that
the relatives of the victim are entitled to fair compensation, according to law,
whereby the Government is responsible for said compensation. 5. To publish this
Resolution in its next Annual Report. 6. To transmit
this Resolution to the Government of Suriname and the petitioner. [ Table of Contents | Previous | Next ] |