Saamaka-oto

The parliamentarians organize hearings in local villages across the country.

Three hours of time was not enough for local communities to understand the “jargon” of the law. This was taken by local stakeholders as disrespect to their right for free prior inform consent. Their discomfort was used by the Government as another argument to delay the public debate about the law.

The first draft law collective rights for Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of Suriname is written in collaboration with the indigenous and tribal groups.

KAMPOS and VIDS participate, with the Government in the formulation of the first draft of the land rights law including their position on important aspects. The draft was in discussion within the parliament but due to elections, there was not enough time to approve it. The new parliament rejected that first draft and proposed a new version.

The process that led to the first draft of the land rights law was characterized by its participatory approach (although NGO’s were not consulted) and inclusion of local, perspectives, interest and position. So, it has been a disappointment that this version was rejected.

VSG and other tribal and indigenous groups in Suriname formulate a community project engagement protocol.

VSG and other tribal groups join efforts to develop a Community Engagement protocol providing guidance to the Government of Suriname and outsiders on how to engage local communities in projects. The document is based on International agreements, guidelines and principles for work with indigenous and tribal communities.

This document is important for the Saamaka people because it let them decide for themselves how they want to be engaged in projects. As such, it is also a useful document for the government and outsiders, as it provides the basis for mutual understanding and transparent collaboration.

A Tribal Right Conference was organized by the Government as a space to steer the land rights discussion in Suriname.

The Ministry of Regional Development organized a conference on tribal rights with the aim to open a space to make more structural contribution to the land right discussion and enter into action.

The discussions did not generate concrete actions and it became more a discussion of the reasons why the land rights should not be legally recognized.

The Government of Suriname is obliged by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights to legally recognize traditional land rights to Indigenous and Tribal people of Suriname.

In 2007, the Saamaka won a victory before the IACHR guaranteeing territorial rights not just for the Saamaka, but for all Indigenous and tribal people of Suriname. Also, International jurisprudence has been changed so that free, prior and informed consent is required for major development project throughout the Americas.

For the first time the court ruled that a non- indigenous community like the Saamaka are considered tribal community protected by international law and as such they are entitled to the State’s recognition of their collective de facto rights over land and resources.

The collective rights to land of tribal and indigenous people in Suriname are recognized by presidential decree.

From April 2000 onwards, a presidential decree recognizes the collective rights of indigenous and tribal peoples of Suriname on their respective residential areas as these have been and continue to be known for centuries. Such areas were indicated on maps with geographic coordinates and made available to the respective traditional leaders.

The Saamaka and the Ndyuka, rejected the protocol, because there was not enough consultation with the majority of Indigenous and tribal leaders on the content of this. It was seen as an arbitrary, not transparent and excluding action that did not respect the right to free prior informed consent and self-determination.

Saamaka traditional authorities organize into the Association of Saamaka Authorities (VSG) to defend their territory from Chinese multinationals pursuing logging in Saamaka lands.

In March 1996 Saamaka traditional leaders representing 77 villages (approximately 35,000 persons) organize into the Association of Saamaka Authorities (VSG) to represent the position of Traditional Saamaka leaders vis a vis the invasion of Chinese logging multinationals in their traditional lands.

This period helped create awareness among the Saamaka people in relation to the importance of the Saamaka as tribal group and about their human and land rights. The VSG managed to mobilize an international network of people and organizations who were key in the Saamaka human rights trial.

The Kourou peace agreement is signed between the Jungle commando and Government of Suriname ending the armed conflict.

The Kourou Peace agreement was signed by the Government of Suriname and the Jungle Commando on 21st of july 1989 to formally stop the armed conflict and enable refugees in French Guiana to return home. Saamaka settlers from the destroyed villages of Pokigron and Wakibasu returned to their lands and the villages were rebuilt (with poor government support).

The National Army claimed to step out of the war acknowledging the peace agreement but invisibly promoted paramilitarism among indigenous and tribal groups to continue fighting the Jungle Commando. Through those actions, they objected the Kourou agreement as they wanted to continue the political and military control of the hinterland.

First open gold concession within Saamaka territory granted to the State owned gold mining company Grasshopper Aluminum Company (Grassalco).

Gold deposits were discovered within Saamaka territory in the area known as Rosebel. There were no environmental nor social assessment required at that time. After signing the mining agreement with the international mining company, exploration and exploitation begun.

Second violation of Saamaka human rights, not only because Saamaka land was grabbed (for the second time) but also because there was no due Free Prior Informed Consent. The Saamaka territory overlapping that concession becomes the largest gold producer of Suriname while the communities do not receive compensation from the exploitation.

The Government of Suriname approves the Afobaka hydrodam project.

Suralco (Suriname Aluminum Company) received permission of the Surinamese Government to construct a hydrodam project (i.e. Afobaka dam) to supply power to the Aluminum smelter. The Afobaka dam is located in the Upper-Suriname river in the District of Brokopondo.

Generation of 180 megawatt electricity from the powerhouse to run the Aluminum plant and to supply electricity to Paramaribo. Until today (2022) part of the Saamaka people downstream have no electricity from the hydrodam while they were directly and largely impacted by its construction.

Signed peace treaty with the Dutch Colonizers which allowed Saamaka who had successfully freed themselves from slavery to legally be free and stay in their territory.

The Saamaka fought against the Dutch colonial army in order to obtain freedom from slavery. Once they obtained their freedom, they started families with the freed women. The free Saamakans organized themselves to share land and resources (this marked the beginning of their internal governance system).

The peace treaty gave Saamaka people and other tribal groups in Suriname, autonomy as a tribal group and marked the beginning of traditional land ownership.