Skip to main content

State Organization and Political Tensions

  • Chapter
  • 45 Accesses

Part of the book series: Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde ((KITLV))

Abstract

From the beginning of the 18th century onward tension has existed between the colonists and the overseas rulers of the Colony, as was described above. In consequence of this, tension similarly arose between the Governor — first the representative of the Chartered Society and later on of the Netherlands Government — and the politically conscious section of the population of Surinam. A statement by the author of the Remarques, according to whom the mood which prevailed in Surinam at the time of the war of independence in the North American Colonies was such that the colonists were only too eager to follow this example, shows plainly how high feeling could run against the mother country, even at a time when the antagonism between colonists and the Administration in Surinam was not aggravated by racial antagonism.486

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. C. van Vollenhoven, De Herziening der Grondwet ingevoerd voor Indië, Suriname en Curaçao. Verspreide Geschriften, Haarlem, 1935, III, p. 501.

    Google Scholar 

  2. A. J. van der Hoeven van Oordt, Het Regeeringsreglement van Suriname, Leiden, 1895, p. 106.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,1870–1871, p. 30.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,1872–1873, p. 76.

    Google Scholar 

  5. A. J. Wesenhagen, Enkele Beschouwingen gewijd aan de belangen der Kolonie Suriname, Rotterdam, 1886, p. 28.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Reports Proceedings Upper House, 1896–1897, p. 281.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,1871–1872, p. 57.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,1872–1873, pp. 55, 72.

    Google Scholar 

  9. De West-Indiër,27th November, 1870, no. 95 and 4th December, 1870, no. 97. Cf. De West-Indiër,15th February, 1871, no. 14, and 1st March, 1871, no. 18, for the trial and verdict. Determan was sentenced to 18 months’ gaol. On 7th May, 1871 (Resolution No. 37), the remainder of his sentence was remitted. The first press offence was committed in 1796. Cf. J. Hartog, Journalistiek Leven in Curaçao,Willemstad, 1944, p. 307.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Surinaamsche Toestanden Paramaribo, 1885 (brochure consisting of offprints from De Suriname) p. 12.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Reports Proceedings Koloniala Staten,1888–1889, p. 16.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Reports Proceedings Lower House, 1888–1889, p. 428.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Reports Proceedings Lower House, 1889–1890, p. 1150.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cf. Explanatory Memorandum (Van Heemstra), Appendix, Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,p. 233. For the labour ordinance of 1911 see Appendix, Koloniale Staten,1913–1914 (5.3) and Reports Proceedings, 1914–1915, debate 2nd June.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Reports Proceedings Lower House 1917–1918, p. 2212.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,1918–1919, p. 27.

    Google Scholar 

  17. A. L. Smit, Surinaamse Bauxiet Maskerade, Paramaribo, 1947, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Appendix, Koloniale Staten,1936–1937 (28.13).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,1935–1936, p. 101.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pamphlet containing all documents pertaining to the prosecution and conviction of P. A. May, Editor of Suriname, on a charge of committing a press offence. Paramaribo, 1928, p. 9.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Governor’s Report to the Koloniale Staten 1st July, 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cf. Hartog, op. cit., pp. 302 ff. “Het Nieuws” ceased to exist after 1949; Suriname has become a weekly. Besides De West there is one new newspaper in circulation De Ware Tijd.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Samson, Kiesvereenigingen, W.I. Gids,1948, p. 161. 531 Cf. Report Political Reforms, vol. I, appendices.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Cf. for the Petition of the Comité Volksbelang, W.I. Gids 1919, I, p. 416.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Cf. for the quotation from Valois Smith De Surinaamsche Bode,1910, 5th November, No. 88. Between the years 1919 and 1940 a series of trade unions came into being, a number of which joined the Surinaamsch Verbond van Vakvereenigingen (S.V.V.) (Surinam Trades Union Congress). In addition there is the Surinaamsche Arbeiders Federatie (Surinam Workers’ Council), which was a general trade union in these years. In 1949 the tendency to lend this a Protestant character was first to be seen. After the War the S.W.O. in particular (Surinaamsche Werknemers Organisatie = Surinam Worker’s Organization), which had been founded long before this, came to the forefront. The Miners’ Union also occupies an important place. After these the Progressiece We rknemersorganisatie (Progressive Workers’ Organization) also came into being; it is founded on general religious principles —all who believe in a Supreme Being are eligible to join — and is controlled completely by Roman Catholics. In addition to these four major trade unions and the Miners’ Union, there were a whole series of other “unions”, such as that for government employees. Trade unionism is not very highly developed, as a result of both fragmentation into various smaller unions and lack of organization in these.

    Google Scholar 

  26. J. R. Thomson, Overzicht der Geschiedenis van Suriname, The Hague, 1903, p. 204.

    Google Scholar 

  27. For details concerning the De Savornin Lohman affair see especially: Reports of the Proceedings of the Lower House, 1889–1890, pp. 1144 ff., 18901891, pp. 555 ff. and pp. 1375 ff., Reports of the Proceedings of the Koloniale Staten,1889–1890 and 1890–1891. De West Indiër,1889–1891, De Volksbode,1890–1892, De Suriname,1889–1892, passim.

    Google Scholar 

  28. On this issue in the Lower House cf. Lieftinck, Reports Lower House Proceedings 1890–1891, p. 592.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Concerning the dissatisfaction in respect of these matters see Een blik op het bestuur van Jhr. Mr. M. A. de Savornin Lohman, Gouverneur van Suriname,Rotterdam, 1890 (anonymous pamphlet).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,1889–1890. December, 1889.

    Google Scholar 

  31. For the Governor’s letter of 23rd December, see Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten 1889–1890. Zaayer quotes from the minutes of the meeting of the senior officials concerned, which were drawn up by the Government Secretary.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Reports Proceedings Lower House, 1889–1890, p. 1158.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Reports Proceedings Koloniale Staten,1889–1890, session of 27th December, 1890. See De West Indiër,1890, No. 10, for Heylidy’s refusal after his re-election.

    Google Scholar 

  34. De Volksbode of September, 1890, published the article De Leer van de Talmud (The Teachings of the Talmud) (No. 38), and the news concerning the Governor’s being a subscriber was published in No. 41, as well as Bishop Wulfingh’s letter. Concerning the impression created on the Staten party by the news in De Volksbode that the Governor was a subscriber, see De West Indiër,10th September, no. 74: S. van Praag, Een zeitbeschuldiging `van de hoogste zijde’.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Anna de Savornin Lohman, Herinneringen,p. 133.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Reports Proceedings Lower House, 1889–1890, Smit, pp. 1150 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  37. De Volksbode,1890, no. 57. De West Indiër,1890.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Reports Proceedings Lower House, 1889–1890, pp. 1144 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Appendices, Reports Proceedings Lower House, 1890–1891, 77.10, p. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Reports Proceedings Lower House, 1890–1891, pp. 555 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Cf. De West Indiër,25th January, no. 7, 1891, in which the verdict of the Court of Justice was published.

    Google Scholar 

  42. For a description of the disturbances on 12th May, 1891, and the days following, see J. R. Thomson, op. cit,p. 183. Thomson was an eyewitness to these riots.

    Google Scholar 

  43. For the Killinger affair see De Suriname 1910, nos. 41 and 42, and the court reports in De Suriname March, 1911.

    Google Scholar 

  44. For the 1931 riots see the Report of the Governor of Surinam, published in the Appendices of the Reports of the Proceedings of the States General, 1931–1932, I, no. 16, and the Surinam newspapers of October, 1931, viz. De Surinamer, 29th October, 1931, no. 87, De West, 30th October, 1931, 2310, De Volksbode, 5th November, 1931.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Governor’s Report to the Minister of the Colonies Archives Ministry of Colonies, 1933; Surinam newspapers, February, 1933.

    Google Scholar 

  46. On the playful element see J. Huizinga, Homo Ludens, Haarlem, 1940, and for the aggressive urges, J. Dollard e.a., Frustration and Aggression, New Haven, 1939, and R. M. Williams, The Reduction of Intergroup Tensions, New York, 1947.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1971 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

van Lier, R.A.J. (1971). State Organization and Political Tensions. In: Frontier Society. Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-0647-2_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-0647-2_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-015-0156-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-0647-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics