Introduction
Desi Bouterse’s passing revives unanswered questions about justice
Between October and December 2024, Suriname's local media landscape was notably influenced by the passing of Desi Bouterse, a former military dictator and twice-elected president, who died at the age of 79. Bouterse's legacy was marked by significant human rights violations, including the 1982 December Murders, where 15 political opponents were killed. Despite a 20-year prison sentence for these crimes, he never served time. His death prompted widespread reflection on Suriname's historical and ongoing challenges concerning human rights and freedom of expression.
Peaceful Assembly
After months of protest, rice farmers compensated for crop losses
In October 2024, rice farmers in Nickerie, Suriname, began receiving compensation promised by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi for significant losses during the spring 2024 season caused by extreme weather conditions. This development ended a long-standing protest in the western city of Suriname.
The government allocated SRD 70 million for this purpose, with approximately SRD 68.2 million distributed among 1,499 farmers. Of this, over SRD 41.5 million was disbursed in cash, and SRD 27.7 million in fertilisers.
Farmers welcomed the support, which helped stabilise the sector and enabled them to prepare for the upcoming spring harvest in March 2025. However, some farmers reported discrepancies in the compensation amounts received, leading to dissatisfaction. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (LVV) addressed these concerns by reviewing and publishing the compensation list for transparency.