Military authority suspends the Constitution and Parliament

After sergeant Ramon Abrahams was disciplined for reading an open letter about conditions in the army, non-commissioned officers held sit-down actions outside Parliament and the Prime Minister’s...

Following the Bond van Militair Kader’s demand for the dismissal of army commander Henk Elstak, the government arrested Badrisein Sital, Laurens Neede and Ramon Abrahams and removed them from their...

A group of sixteen non-commissioned officers led by Desi Bouterse seized key military installations and state power in Paramaribo. The coup ended the elected government and interrupted the...

A civilian administration took office under Prime Minister Henk Chin A Sen after the coup. Although civilian ministers were appointed and early declarations promised a return to elections and...

Decree C-64 designated a Central Executive Body as the highest governing body and left its composition to the Military Authority. The Inter-American Commission described it as formalizing the de facto...

Fifteen detained opponents—including journalists, union leaders, lawyers, academics and former officials—were killed while in military custody at Fort Zeelandia. Authorities initially described the...

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued its report following an in-country investigation. It documented constitutional suspension, restrictions on political participation and the killings...

Accounts of the military period describe the movement associated with the revolution’s supporters as changing its name to Stanvaste on the anniversary of 25 February. The organization functioned...

Suriname entered a period with a 31-member appointed parliament. Seats were allocated among nominees of the 25 February Movement, the trade-union movement and business representatives. The National...