分类： world

The Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHATA) has issued an urgent environmental alert regarding the escalating crisis at Brownsberg Nature Park, an internationally recognized conservation and tourism destination in Brokopondo district. What initially began as concerns about inadequate maintenance has rapidly evolved into a full-scale ecological emergency due to proliferating gold mining operations.

Multiple sites within the protected area now show severe degradation. The Witikreek area has been transformed into an active gold mining site, while guides at the Irene Falls recently confronted heavy machinery and experienced intimidation when attempting to document the destruction. Simultaneously, the Leo Valley sector continues to suffer from extensive deforestation and excavation caused by illegal mining activities.

Industry representatives Dinesh Ramlal of Travel The Guianas, along with Dick Lock and Lieke Verwoerd of Unlock Nature, have formally communicated the tourism sector’s grave concerns to government authorities and relevant institutions. They emphasize the critical need for immediate intervention before Brownsberg sustains irreversible damage.

SHATA’s communications underscore Suriname’s unique position: “As one of the world’s few nations where nature requires not restoration but merely protection, preserving Brownsberg has never been more urgent. In an era where healthy ecosystems are becoming increasingly scarce—and may soon hold greater literal value than gold—effective conservation is paramount.” The association notes that despite repeated warnings from NGOs, guides, tour operators, and concerned citizens, substantive protective measures remain absent.

The association has outlined an eight-point action plan demanding:
1. Immediate enforcement against illegal gold mining operations within and surrounding the park
2. Establishment of a permanent security and surveillance outpost staffed by military police, regular police, or LBB personnel
3. Development of a comprehensive, sustainable management strategy integrating conservation, security, and tourism
4. Restoration of essential infrastructure including access roads and accommodation facilities
5. Structured collaboration between government agencies, guides, tour operators, NGOs, and local communities
6. Professionalization of the governing foundation STINASU
7. Support for temporary initiatives including crowdfunding campaigns
8. Creation of an investment-friendly framework for public-private partnerships

SHATA maintains that while the situation remains critical, it is still reversible. With robust government intervention supported by tourism sector professionals and conservation experts, Brownsberg could be restored and repositioned as one of Suriname’s most valuable natural treasures.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has imposed a 20-year prison sentence on Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, marking a landmark ruling in one of the court’s most significant African war crimes cases. The conviction comes after Abd-Al-Rahman, widely known by his alias ‘Ali Kushayb,’ was found guilty on 27 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the Darfur conflict.

The extensive list of convictions includes murder, rape, torture, persecution, and other grave human rights violations. As a senior commander of the notorious Janjaweed militias, Abd-Al-Rahman was directly responsible for orchestrating systematic violence against civilian populations in Darfur beginning in 2003.

ICC prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence demonstrating his central role in coordinating attacks that targeted non-Arab ethnic groups, resulting in widespread displacement, sexual violence, and mass casualties. The court’s sentencing deliberation emphasized the particular brutality of the crimes and their devastating impact on countless communities.

This ruling represents a crucial milestone in the international community’s pursuit of accountability for atrocities committed during the Darfur conflict, which the United Nations estimates claimed approximately 300,000 lives and displaced over 2.7 million people. The ICC characterized the sentence as a vital step toward delivering justice for thousands of victims who suffered under the Janjaweed’s campaign of terror.

The case sets important precedents for international justice mechanisms and demonstrates the ICC’s ongoing commitment to addressing impunity for mass atrocities, particularly in conflict zones where civilian populations face targeted violence.

Suriname is witnessing significant judicial developments in two of its most notorious historical massacre cases as victims’ families intensify their pursuit of justice and official accountability. André Ajintoena, chairman of the Moiwana Foundation and himself a survivor, has drawn parallels between the ongoing legal proceedings regarding the 1986 Moiwana massacre and the recent advancements in the December 8th murders case.

During Monday’s annual memorial ceremony at Fort Zeelandia’s Bastion Veere, Ajintoena expressed renewed hope that the judicial preliminary investigation (GVO) into the Moiwana case would culminate in formal court proceedings. “We expect the initial verdict to be respected and those responsible for the atrocities in Moiwana to receive their punishment,” Ajintoena stated, emphasizing his community’s unwavering support for the judicial process.

The Office of the Public Prosecutor formally requested the GVO in October, granting the investigating magistrate expanded authority to compel witness testimony and implement coercive measures when necessary. According to Ajintoena, potential witnesses previously hesitant to testify now draw courage from recent developments in the December 8th case, where several convicted individuals are currently serving sentences.

Ajintoena maintains that the Surinamese state bears responsibility for the horrific events of November 29, 1986, when approximately 39 villagers—including women and children—were killed during military operations in the Marowijne district. He expressed particular satisfaction with President Jennifer Simons’ recent stance on pardon requests, noting that she “respects the rule of law and the verdict” despite expectations she might take different action.

In a parallel legal development, victims’ families and heirs of the December 8th massacre have initiated civil proceedings against the state. Hugo Essed, legal representative for 60 surviving relatives, explained that the lawsuit seeks both moral rehabilitation and financial compensation. “Moral restoration means rehabilitating the good names of victims and their families,” Essed clarified, “who for over 40 years have been defamed, humiliated and harassed by the Surinamese state, Mr. Bouterse and his Military Authority.”

Both legal advocates emphasize that presidential apology represents a crucial component of justice. Ajintoena noted that previous administrations under Bouterse ignored such requests, while Essed identified the president as the most appropriate official to offer state apologies. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights had already condemned Suriname in the Moiwana case in 2005, resulting in some implemented measures including a public apology by former President Ronald Venetiaan in Moengo.

The current criminal investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office constitutes another element of that international verdict, now gaining renewed momentum under the Santokhi administration after years of stagnation.