VIDS' new year message: Dark clouds are hanging over the heads of Indigenous peoples

 

"Dark clouds hang over the heads of the Indigenous peoples in Suriname. We are threatened with land grabbing, clear-cutting of forests, loss of biodiversity and environmental destruction. The important livelihoods of the first inhabitants of Suriname are being taken away from us, and there is fear for our own safety."

 

This is how the Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname (VIDS) describes the miserable situation of Indigenous Peoples in Suriname in 2023.

Empty promises

Taking stock, VIDS cannot help but note that 2023 has become a year in which activists, who stood up for obtaining their collective land rights, have been shot dead by the police or imprisoned and accused of criminal behavior. Fears for our own safety have increased. Empty promises have been made, and agreements at ministerial level have not been kept. Subsequently, the ruling of judges of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights who in 2015 condemned the state of Suriname to legally recognize the collective rights for Indigenous Peoples and warned, among other things, not to issue land in residential areas of Indigenous Peoples, was not implemented.

Approval of draft law is still awaited

Furthermore, the parliament did not provide a quorum for the discussion of the draft law for the recognition of our collective rights, as laid down by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and co-signed by the State of Suriname, and subsequently sent the draft law on collective rights that has been in preparation by the government together with the rights holders for years, back to the drawing board. Despite fierce criticism from VIDS and opinions from important state bodies, the controversial Land Conversion Law has been promulgated by state decree by the head of state. As a result, land rent and leasehold can be converted into ownership and in this way plots of up to 2,500 square meters, including in residential and living areas of Indigenous peoples, can become the property of outsiders.

Lack of vision for development opportunities from Indigenous peoples’ perspective

The approved government budget does not reflect a vision or policy aimed at the development of Indigenous peoples in our areas and no implementation funding has been made available for the most basic needs of the people in the interior. Large plans aimed at extractive industry are supported by the government, which thereby jeopardizes the position of Suriname as a country with the largest forest cover in the world and ignores opportunities to build a good living environment in balance with the natural environment, and thus shows no respect for the life of Indigenous Peoples.

Unacceptable allocation of large plots of land

VIDS finds it unacceptable that large tracts of land are currently being allocated for large-scale agricultural purposes. For our future generations but also for the protection of our country Suriname, we will not allow that land is sold, forests are destroyed and our lands fall prey to Mennonites, Brazilians, Haitians, Chinese, Indians, Barbadians and others who will pollute and exterminate our lands and waters for the benefit of capitalist private interests of politicians and other wealthy people in this country. We will also not accept that in the border areas where Indigenous Peoples live, land is allocated to neighboring countries without our consent. Not only does the government ignore the recognition of our collective rights, including the collective land rights and the application of the right to give consent for everything that happens in and near our residential and living areas (Free, Prior and Informed Consent), but it has no respect whatsoever for the people and nature of Suriname. Reasons such as agricultural development for national food security and national income are fallacies. After all, village communities have been taking care of their own food security for centuries and, with the right policies and investments, can make a major contribution to national food security.

Large-scale plans like dark clouds over our heads

To give an idea: VIDS has learned that in the west of the country, in an area where there are at least 10 Indigenous villages, large-scale plans are being developed by the government (and foreign investors), of which the Indigenous Peoples, with the exception of one plan, are formally unaware. For example, more than a hundred thousand hectares of land have been requested by the Ministry of Agriculture for agriculture and so-called foundations. The SBB (State Forestry Department) has already granted hundreds of hectares of forest concessions, including to Asians, and there will be more. Newmont also has plans for an expedition to inspect the presence of gold or the amount of gold available. Furthermore, new plans for bauxite mining in the Bakhuis Mountains are ready and the government may already be looking for foreign investors. In addition, due to the granting of a concession to India for a large-scale oil palm plantation, a road is currently being built from Nickerie to Apoera. This is part of the deal with India that Suriname is responsible for the road construction for this foreign investor.

Call for the sun behind the clouds!

VIDS calls on the Surinamese government to withdraw all these destructive plans in the interest of the whole Surinamese population. VIDS also appeals to all Surinamese people to reject and not accept land grabbing, clear-cutting, destruction of nature and the feeling of unsafety at all times. VIDS calls on the Surinamese people to convince the government and our representatives not to carry out these acts. VIDS emphasizes that it will use all its legally permitted means to protect people and nature and enters 2024 with this mission, together with you.

Lespeki Gi Wi Leti, Fu Dati Wi E Feti!

This article is a translation from Dutch of VIDS' new year's message “Donkere wolken hangen boven het hoofd van de 

Inheemse volken in Suriname” originally published on VIDS' website.