Gerard Spong | |
|---|---|
 Gerard Spong in 2015 | |
| Born | Gerard Spong 9 June 1946 |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Years active | 1973-present |
Gerard Spong (born 9 June 1946) is a Dutch lawyer of Surinamese descent.
Gerard Spong | |
|---|---|
| Gerard Spong in 2015 | |
| Born | Gerard Spong 9 June 1946 |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Years active | 1973-present |
Gerard Spong (born 9 June 1946) is a Dutch lawyer of Surinamese descent.
Spong was born in Paramaribo, Suriname. He is a cousin of film director Pim de la Parra. [1] In 1962, he moved to Oegstgeest in the Netherlands. From 1967 to 1973, he studied political science and law in Amsterdam. After graduating, he returned to Paramaribo, where he was sworn in as a lawyer. In 1976, he returned to Amsterdam. With Mischa Wladimiroff, he started the law firm Wladimiroff & Spong Advocaten. Meanwhile, he specialized in criminal law.
In 1978, Spong defended the interests of Knut Folkerts, Christof Wackernagel and Gert Schneider, three members of the Red Army Faction who were arrested in the Netherlands in 1977 and imprisoned in Maastricht. The three appealed against an extradition request from West Germany and wanted to be seen as a political refugee. Eventually, they were transferred to Germany in October 1978. [2]
In 1980, he defended a number of opponents of the then Surinamese dictator Desi Bouterse in Paramaribo, who had to appear before the ward council. Spong was suddenly arrested at night by Bouterse's military in his room at the Torarica hotel and was brought to Fort Zeelandia (Bouterse's headquarters). Spong was questioned here by Bouterse and Roy Horb, and released again after eleven hours. He had to leave the country immediately. [3]
In 2008, Spong was one of the guests of College Tour , a television program where students interview a guest. The show was held at the University of Amsterdam. One of the students asked Spong why Geert Wilders, a far-right Dutch politician, had never been prosecuted for hate speech. Spong replied that public prosecutors lacked guts, and freely offered his services to file charges against Wilders on behalf of the students. [4] The Public Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute, therefore, Spong filed an Article 12 sv-procedure forcing a prosecution. [5] In 2011, Wilders had to appear in court for hate speech. He was found not guilty. [6] Spong received multiple death threats during the period. [7]
Suriname or Surinam, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, and Brazil to the south. At just under 165,000 square kilometers, it is the smallest sovereign state in South America.
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse is a Surinamese military officer, politician, convicted murderer and drug trafficker who served as President of Suriname from 2010 to 2020. From 1980 to 1987, he was Suriname's de facto leader after conducting a military coup and establishing a period of military rule. In 1987, Bouterse founded the National Democratic Party (NDP). On 25 May 2010, Bouterse's political alliance, the Megacombinatie, which included the NDP, won the parliamentary elections, and on 19 July 2010, Bouterse was elected as President of Suriname with 36 of 50 parliament votes. He was inaugurated on 12 August 2010.
Henck Alphonsus Eugène Arron was the first Prime Minister of Suriname after it gained independence in 1975. A member of the National Party of Suriname, he served from 24 December 1973 with the transition government, to 25 February 1980. He was overthrown in a coup d'état by the military, led by Dési Bouterse. Released in 1981 after charges of corruption were dropped, he returned to banking, his previous career. In 1987, Arron was elected as Vice President of Suriname and served until another coup in 1990 overthrew the government.
The December murders were the murders on 7, 8, and 9 December 1982, of fifteen prominent young Surinamese men who had criticized the military dictatorship then ruling Suriname. Thirteen of these men were arrested on December 7 between 2 am and 5 am while sleeping in their homes. The other two were Surendre Rambocus and Jiwansingh Sheombar who were already imprisoned for attempting a counter-coup in March 1982. Soldiers of Dési Bouterse, took them to Fort Zeelandia, where they were heard as "suspects in a trial" by Bouterse and other sergeants in a self-appointed court. After these "hearings" they were tortured and shot dead. The circumstances remain unclear. On 10 December 1982, Bouterse claimed on national television that all of the detainees had been shot dead "in an attempt to flee".
The trial of Geert Wilders, a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, took place in the Netherlands in 2010 and 2011. Wilders was accused of criminally insulting religious and ethnic groups and inciting hatred and discrimination. He was found not guilty in June 2011.
Jules Sedney was a Surinamese politician, and Prime Minister of Suriname from 20 November 1969 to 24 December 1973. In 1980, he became governor of the Central Bank of Suriname, but had to flee the country in 1983 after a dispute with Dési Bouterse. Sedney returned to Suriname in 1989.
Ronnie Brunswijk is a Surinamese politician, businessman, footballer, convicted drug trafficker, former rebel leader, and the current Vice President of Suriname. Brunswijk served in the early 1980s as the personal bodyguard of Dési Bouterse, who overthrew the government in 1980 in a military coup. Brunswijk was discharged after asking for a raise, and denied back pay. In 1985, Brunswijk formed the Surinamese Liberation Army, better known as the Jungle Commando.
Rudi André Kamperveen was a Surinamese football player, sports administrator, politician and businessman.
Hendrick Rudolf "Henk" Chin A Sen was a Surinamese politician who served as the President of Suriname from 15 August 1980 until 4 February 1982.
Chandrikapersad "Chan" Santokhi is a Surinamese politician and former police officer who is the 9th president of Suriname, since 2020. After winning the 2020 elections, Santokhi was the sole nominee for president of Suriname. On 13 July, Santokhi was elected president by acclamation in an uncontested election. He was inaugurated on 16 July.
Netherlands–Suriname relations refers to the current and historical relations between the Netherlands and Suriname. Both nations share historic ties and a common language (Dutch) and are members of the Dutch Language Union.
Julius Caesar de Miranda was a Surinamese jurist and politician. De Miranda was the first Prime Minister of Suriname.
Mexico–Suriname relations are the diplomatic relations between Mexico and Suriname. Both nations are members of the Association of Caribbean States, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Organization of American States and the United Nations.
Roy Dennis Horb was a Surinamese military officer. He was one of the sergeants who committed a military coup in Suriname on 25 February 1980, and the right hand man of army leader Dési Bouterse.
Surendre Sradhanand "Soerinder" Rambocus was a Surinamese serviceman. For a short period, he was the highest ranking officer of the Suriname National Army. He was involved in the unsuccessful coup d'état of March 1982 against the then dictator of Suriname, Dési Bouterse, and was executed on 8 December 1982 as one of the December murders.
Baal Indradj Oemrawsingh was a Surinamese professor of biochemistry at the University of Suriname, and member of the National Assembly of Suriname between 1977 and 1980. He was considered the political leader behind the Rambocus Coup of March 1982. He was one of the victims killed by the military regime of Dési Bouterse.
Henry Roëll Neijhorst is a Surinamese economist who served as Prime Minister of Suriname from 31 March to 9 December 1982. He also served as Minister of Finance from 15 March to 15 August 1980.
Jan Buiskool was Surinamese Prime Minister and judge in Suriname, the Netherlands and Tangier.
Willem Frederik "Wim" van Eer was a Surinamese diplomat and educator. He served as Minister Plenipotentiary of Suriname from 1 April 1974 until the Independence of Suriname on 25 November 1975. Subsequently, he was appointed first Ambassador of Suriname to the Netherlands and served until 20 May 1980.
Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You is a Surinamese human rights activist who lives and works in The Netherlands.
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