Decembermoorden

In December 1982, fifteen young Surinamese men lost their lives during the events known as the Decembermoorden. These individuals had raised their voices against the military government then in power. Many were taken from their homes in the early hours of December 7th, while two others, already detained, were brought to Fort Zeelandia, the headquarters of Suriname's dictator at the time.

There, they were subjected to questioning within a court formed by military leaders. Reports indicate they were tortured before being shot. The precise details surrounding their deaths remain subject to uncertainty. Following the events, the dictator stated that the men had been killed attempting to escape. These killings provoked significant international outcry and led to the Netherlands, the former colonial power, halting development aid, prompting many Surinamese to seek refuge in the Netherlands.