"About the revolution" a Suriname Travel Page by ATLC

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A school report (1980)

During my visit in 1980 I realised that I had visited my birth country at a very historical moment in time. Five years after its independence from The Netherlands and just four months after the revolution.
Back home, I wrote this paper for my history classes.

I decided to write about how this could have happened and did some background research in the political and economical history of Suriname.

It's quite interesting to read back my own writings, when I was just 16 yrs old and trying my hand at serious stuff such as this!

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New military regime

In name of the souvereign Republic of Suriname, We, the National Military Council, declare that we have today, 25 February 1980, decided, in the most wide sense of the word, to take over military, police and administrative leadership of the Republic of Suriname.
Each true citizen of the Republic of Suriname regardless of race, religious or political ideas, and profession, is hereby called to reamin of service in the proces of the social-economic, social and moral re-orientation of Suriname.

It would never have come this far if:
1. common sense had dominated rancour, hate and arrogance.
2. the cabinet Arron and the SKM leaders had not chosen for criminal confrontation
3. a listening ear had been given to solve problems.

De National Military Council declares solemnly to respect the democratic principles.
etc.

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Old democratic regime

On February 26t 1980, an emotional ex-minister and vice-president of state, made the following statement:

(roughly translated)
In confirmation of the total takeover of the military and civilian powers by the National Military Council, the undersigned vice-president and the minister of justice and police, call upon the whole Surinamese people to submit to the new power in order to maintain peace, order and safety.