Last modified: 2003-02-08 by dov gutterman
Keywords: suriname | boschneger |
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by Jaume Ollé, 21 Febuary 1997
In the 80s a guerilla group in Surinam controlled part of the
country. Is named Boschneger (Bosneger Party) and the leader was
Ronnie Bruswijk. I found a flag perhaps the Bosneger flag. I also
saw two other flags that use the same colours and light blue, in
diferent pattern, and include 24 stars each.
Jaume Ollé, 21 Febuary 1997
To understand the called Boschneger rebellion and related
evenements, it is important to place them in their historical
context. Starting in late 1986 and continuing into 1987, a
Maroon guerrilla movement, known as the Jungle Commando, led by
former Sgt. Ronnie Brunswijk, rose up against the Army headed by
then military dictator, Lt. Col. Desi Bouterse.
Army repression was swift, harsh, and indiscriminate against the
Maroon people. (The Maroons, also known as Bush Negroes,
are descendants of escaped African slaves. They constitute
about 10% of the national population). As a result,
thousands of Maroons and hundreds of Amerindians were uprooted
from their homes. Over 200 were killed including women and
children. Approximately 10,000 Maroons fled to French
Guiana and an equal number moved to the capital,
Paramaribo. The resolutions referred to above dealt with
some of these cases.
However, in 1988, a new democratically elected Government was
installed and one of its first tasks was to negotiate an end to
the fighting between the Army and the Maroons. To that end,
a tripartite agre