A Gross Violation of Fundamental Protections and International Law
The Foundation Board of the Association of Saamaka Communities (VSG) strongly condemns the recent memorandum of amendment to land rights, which was approved by the Government Council and sent to the National Assembly without any consultation with Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, violating the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
This decision introduces serious legal changes that unlawfully erode the existing rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Suriname. Specifically, the amendment downgrades their right to collective property into a mere “collective right of enjoyment and use,” which lacks the same legal strength and sustainability. This decision and any approval of this conflicting legislative amendment proposal not only contradicts international human rights treaties but also directly violates the rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples arising from these agreements.
VSG and the Saamaka People will not remain silent in the face of this blatant oppression. We will escalate our struggle and take all necessary steps, nationally and internationally, to stop this attack on our rights. Currently, VSG is working alongside Saamaka communities to develop strategic actions in collaboration with national and international partners to ensure the full recognition and implementation of collective land rights, as ruled in the Saamaka Judgment of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Despite repeated political promises to implement the Saamaka Judgment and the Kaliña and Lokono Judgment, the government’s actions clearly prioritize an agenda that contradicts these commitments. Approving this memorandum without consulting the affected communities is both a national and international disgrace. It disregards the sustainable conservation of biodiversity, threatens the cultural and traditional identity of Indigenous and Tribal communities, and ignores the devastating social consequences of such policies.
Furthermore, Suriname’s continued refusal to ratify ILO Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples speaks volumes about its lack of political will to respect these communities’ rights. The state’s deliberate erosion of internationally recognized rights demonstrates a systematic abuse of power.
The VSG and the Saamaka people also call on Mr. Albert Ramdin, who is currently a candidate for the highest position in the Organization of American States, to take immediate action to halt this memorandum and ensure the protection of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ rights, by Suriname’s international obligations.
We will also formally notify the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in a laborious manner in writing and substantiated with all associated evidence, including this unlawful decision by the government, about Suriname’s continued failure to implement the Saamaka Judgment, which has been outstanding for 18 years. We will urge the Court to take additional measures against the State of Suriname for its persistent violations.
In preparation for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the VSG and the Saamaka people will present clear evidence to the international community demonstrating the severe pressure on Suriname’s forests and the imminent threat to Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ lands, livelihoods, and cultures. This memorandum is driven by narrow capitalist interests that, if implemented, will have devastating and inhumane consequences for our communities.
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples are integral to the Surinamese nation and identity. The violation of their human rights is not just a problem for these groups, it is a national crisis. The entire Surinamese society must stand in solidarity and take collective action against this injustice.
The VSG and the Saamaka people remain steadfast in their fight for the legal recognition, implementation, and enforcement of all their rights, as established in the Saamaka Judgment. We call on the National Assembly, all political parties, civil society organizations, and the Surinamese people to stand with us in rejecting this harmful amendment and ensuring that the rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples are fully recognized and protected.
Please support us by signing our petition here: https://bit.ly/StandWithSaamakaPeople. This will help amplify the collective demands of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Suriname.
