BOMIKA Escalates to Street Protests as Military Discontent Reaches Parliament

Soldiers march on government seat; Abendanon Commission formed but its report is ignored.

Date: January 1979

BOMIKA Escalates Actions to Street Protests; Abendanon Commission Formed

Details:

  • Due to a lack of progress and broken promises from the government, BOMIKA escalated its protests to street actions in January 1979.
  • Soldiers marched to Gravestraat (now Henck Arronstraat) and posted themselves opposite the Parliament building.
  • On the third day, the police union showed visible support by marching with the soldiers.
  • Parliamentarian Henk Herrenberg met with the soldiers, and as a result of this conversation, the "Abendanon Commission" was established to hear all parties and propose solutions.
  • However, no action was taken on the final report of the Abendanon Commission.

Significance:

  • This marks the shift from internal military discontent to public, organized protest, bringing the conflict directly to the seat of government.
  • The open support from the police union demonstrated a critical fracture within the state's security apparatus.
  • The formation and subsequent ignoring of the Abendanon Commission represented a final failed attempt at a political solution, likely convincing many soldiers that only non-political action would be effective.

Source:

REVO KRANT: EEN AANZET OM DE GESCHIEDENIS VAN DE REVOLUTIE VAST TE LEGGEN. “40 Revo: Dag Der Bevrijding En Vernieuwing.” February 24, 2020. (Text provided by user).

Link:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/njjfdb0hhjajqoacwl3fz/Rapport-Surinaamse-Leger-1980-1983.pdf

Internal Link:

Date:
January 1, 1979
Categories:
Foiled Coups & Plots, Log, Matthew Smith, Military & Intel, Politics
Tags:
Abendanon Commission, Bomika Protests, Political Crisis, Press, Protest, Sergeants Coup 1980 Prelude, Social Unrest
Boxes:
MW Zotero
Years:
1979
Persons:
Henk Herrenberg
META DATA
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