1999 Surinamese protests

Last updated

The 1999 Surinamese protests were a series of demonstrations calling for the fall of the government of Jules Wijdenbosch amid economic deterioration and political deadlock in Suriname. Protesters marched and participated in nonviolent festivals, carnivals, clapping strikes, human chains, gatherings, gathered in speeches, chanted and used peaceful tactics as a form of rallies and peaceful actions during protests. Large-scale demonstrations occurred due to the dire conditions and poor living standards, calling on the government to step down immediately. Concerns was shared and the protesters shared their dissatisfaction with the government while voicing their opposition and anger at the government's handling of the economic situation. Thousands participated in the next 2 months of protest movement, democratic rallies and demonstrations against the regime in mainly Paramaribo and other cities. 10,000-50,000 participated in protests calling for wage increases and lower food costs. Unions, students, workers and teachers planned and staged mass strikes and waves of demonstrations across May, June and July, led by the opposition, but by July, the opposition called off the street protests, commenting that Jules Wijdenbosch would stay in power until the next elections. [1] [2] [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

The early history of Suriname dates from 3000 BCE when Native Americans first inhabited the area. The Dutch acquired Suriname from the English, and European settlement in any numbers dates from the 17th century, when it was a plantation colony utilizing slavery for sugar cultivation. With abolition in the late 19th century, planters sought labor from China, Madeira, India, and Indonesia, which was also colonized by the Dutch. Dutch is Suriname's official language. Owing to its diverse population, it has also developed a creole language, Sranan Tongo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protest</span> Public expression of objection, typically political

A protest is a public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards an idea or action, typically a political one. Protests can be thought of as acts of cooperation in which numerous people cooperate by attending, and share the potential costs and risks of doing so. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass political demonstrations. Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, or they may undertake direct action in an attempt to enact desired changes themselves. Where protests are part of a systematic and peaceful nonviolent campaign to achieve a particular objective, and involve the use of pressure as well as persuasion, they go beyond mere protest and may be better described as a type of protest called civil resistance or nonviolent resistance.

A nonviolent revolution is a revolution conducted primarily by unarmed civilians using tactics of civil resistance, including various forms of nonviolent protest, to bring about the departure of governments seen as entrenched and authoritarian without the use or threat of violence. While many campaigns of civil resistance are intended for much more limited goals than revolution, generally a nonviolent revolution is characterized by simultaneous advocacy of democracy, human rights, and national independence in the country concerned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political demonstration</span> Collective action by people in favor of a cause

A political demonstration is an action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause or people partaking in a protest against a cause of concern; it often consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, in order to hear speakers. It is different from mass meeting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Surinamese general election</span>

General elections were held in Suriname on 25 May 2005. The governing New Front for Democracy and Development of president Ronald Venetiaan lost seats, remaining the largest party but failing to get a majority in the National Assembly of Suriname. Despite this Venetiaan was re-elected as president after obtaining sufficient support to win a majority in the election for president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretaap Radhakishun</span> Surinamese politician

Pretaapnarian Shawh Radhecheran Radhakishun was a Surinamese politician. He was Prime Minister of Suriname from July 1986 to April 1987, and Vice President of Suriname from September 1996 to August 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Armenian protests</span>

The 2011 Armenian protests were a series of civil demonstrations aimed at provoking political reforms and concessions from both the government of Armenia and the civic government of Yerevan, its capital and largest city. Protesters demanded President Serzh Sargsyan release political prisoners, prosecute those responsible for the deaths of opposition activists after the 2008 presidential election and institute democratic and socioeconomic reforms, including the right to organise in Freedom Square in downtown Yerevan. They also protested against Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan for banning the opposition from Freedom Square and barring vendors and traders from the city streets. The opposition bloc Armenian National Congress, which has played a major role in organising and leading the demonstrations, had also called for a snap election and the resignation of the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johan Kraag</span> 5th President of Suriname

Johannes Samuel Petrus "Johan" Kraag was a Surinamese politician who served as the President of Suriname from 29 December 1990, until 16 September 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protests against Faure Gnassingbé</span>

Protests against Faure Gnassingbé have occurred throughout Togo, starting when President Faure Gnassingbé assumed power after the death of his father Gnassingbé Eyadéma in February 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tajikistani Revolution</span> 1992 protests in Tajikistan

The 1992 Tajikistan protests, also known as the Tajikistani Revolution, were nonviolent, bloodless protests and demonstrations against the results of the 1991 Tajik presidential election. These results were thought to be rigged and in favour of the president Rahmon Nabiyev. Opposition rallies erupted on 26 March 1992 but demonstrations became large-scale by May, at the onset of violence. These series of peaceful protests would lead to the bloody Tajikistani Civil War.

The 2003 Iranian student protests was a series of nationwide rallies and student protests in Iran against president Mohammad Khatami and demanded more liberal democratic reforms and justice over the deaths in the Iran student protests, July 1999.

The 2017–2018 Moroccan protests, or more commonly known as Hogra were a series of mass demonstrations, popular protests and strike actions in Morocco carried out by activists and civilians, which began in the town of Jerada after two miners died in a tunnel accident.

The 2015 Honduran protests was mass protests and social demonstrations in Honduras consisting of nonviolent resistance rallies led by the grassroots opposition movement that began a street protest campaign against the government of Juan Orlando Hernandez after corruption scandals rocked the country in 2015.

The 1989-1990 unrest in Benin was a wave of protests, demonstrations, nonviolent boycotts, grassroots rallies, opposition campaigns and strikes in Benin against the government of Mathieu Kérékou, unpaid salaries, and new budget laws.

The 1989–1990 protests in Ivory Coast was massive violent demonstrations and a popular uprising that sprang up in Ivory Coast or Côte d'Ivoire in late-1989 to mid-1990, inspired by the 1989–1990 unrest in Benin against the government, low salaries and more.

The 2019 Albanian protests was massive demonstrations and violent protests led by the opposition, who staged massive rallies in Albania between February-June, calling for the cancellation of the 2019 Albanian local elections, fresh elections, resignation of prime minister Edi Rama and his entire cabinet and the installation of a new technocrat government.

The 2020 Guyanese protests were mass protests and rioting against the results of the 2020 Guyanese general election in March 2020 in Guyana and claimed there was electoral voter fraud during the campaigns, calling for the end of the political crisis and the resignation of President David Granger, yet fresh elections.

The 2003 protests in the Dominican Republic consisted of mass protests, rioting, labor unrest, strikes, demonstrations, rallies, marches, and a protest movement in Dominican Republic between July-November 2003, calling for economic reform despite the economic crisis and financial turmoil, one of the main causes of the political uprising. The movement and uprising were calling for the government of Hipólito Mejía to resign amid popular pressure and anti-presidential opposition on the streets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Algerian protests</span> 2021 protests in Algeria

The 2021 Algerian protests were a series of mass protests, nationwide rallies and peaceful demonstrations in Algeria against the government of Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the military. They were first held on the anniversary of the 2019-2020 Algerian protests, which resulted in the ousting of the government of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, after he announced his fifth term for the 2019 Algerian presidential election. Tens of thousands have since 16 February thronged the streets, using and echoing their voices to make them heard, such as "Algeria, Free, Democratic, No Gang in Power".

Protests erupted on 15 July 2021 to protest the water shortages and crisis, but quickly were met with police violence and brutality. "Bloody Aban", November 2021 saw further protests due to water shortages but various other protests and strikes also took place due to the worsening economic situation.

References

  1. "Surinamese protest against president, 1999". Nonviolent Database. 18 April 2010.
  2. "Attacks on the Press 1999: Suriname". CPJ. March 22, 2000.
  3. "Suriname Protests Break Into Riot". AP News. May 22, 1999.