This was the date in 1982 of the “December murders” (“Decembermoorden”), when 15 opponents of Suriname’s military dictatorship were shot at Fort Zeelandia.
(The 15 people shot each have an entry on the Dutch Wikipedia, accessible through its Decembermoorden entry.)
Though the killings weren’t secret at the time, their circumstances have always been murky, beyond the plain fact of being murders of political dissidents — “counterrevolutionaries,” in the parlance of the “Socialist Republic”.
President Desi Bouterse had seized power in a coup in early 1980, and some of the casualties this day might have been suspected of plotting to pull the same trick on him: at least, several were made to read statements to that effect. Others were regime opponents of a less existential menace: dissident university professors; critical journalists; a prominent former footballer. (When in Paramaribo, take in a match at Andre Kamperveen Stadion, which is named for him.)
Bouterse took political responsibility for the slaughter while claiming not to have ordered it. But it’s long been said that Bouterse was actually present for the shootings, personally interviewing/interrogating/”judging” the prisoners. (That’s what the massacre’s lone survivor, the since-deceased Fred Derby, said. (Dutch link))
Decades later, Bouterse — now an ex-dictator — is finally facing trial for the December murders, including fresh evidence of his involvement in the day’s notorious affair.
On this day..
- 1452: Antonio Rizzo, cannonaded
- 1718: Avram Lopukhin, Peter the Great's brother-in-law
- 1905: Mary Rogers, chloroformer
- 1915: Cordella Stevenson lynched
- 1746: Charles Radclyffe, twice Jacobite rebel
- 1975: Isobel Lobato, wife of East Timor's Prime Minister
- 1934: John and Betty Stam, China missionaries
- 1922: Four anti-Treaty Irish Republicans
- Hand of Glory: 1,500 days and counting
- 2009: Yang Yanming, hedge fund manager
- 1828: Joseph Hunton, forger
- Themed Set: Reputation
- 1793: Madame du Barry, who hated to go
- 1596: Francisca Nunez de Carvajal, her children, and four other crypto-Jews of her family
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I am investigating the murder of a young woman by the first name of Jeanette or janette. She was abducted from the sharkeys casino in washoe valley during 1982-83. Have had no luck finding any information about her in internet searches. Does someone who may have covered the story in 1982-83 remember the case. He was after my sister
Laura which he stated in court. She and Janette were both tall buxom blonds and because they switched jackets that night he mistook Janette for my sister, Janette was murdered in a most horrible way. My sister will not discuss this case. I am primarily interested in finding the mans name and if he is still in prison or on death row. Thank You for any help you can forage for me.
Sincerely Yours,
Ellie Neal
805-453-9464
my7kats@aol.com
I am investigating the murder of a young woman by the first name of Jeanette or janette. She was abducted from the sharkeys casino in 1982-83. Have had no luck finding any information about her in internet searches. Does someone who may have covered the story in 1982-83 remember the case. He was after my sister
Laura which he stated in court. She and Janette were both tall buxom blonds and because they switched jackets that night he mistook Janette for my sister and she was murdered in a most horrible way. My sister will not discuss this case and I am mostly interested in finding the mans name and if he is still in prison or on death row. Thank You for any help you can forage for me.
Sincerely Yours,
Ellie Neal
805-453-9464
my7kats@aol.com
waarom moet dit gebeuren fuck bouta!!!!!!!!!!