Suriname

Suriname became independent on 25 November 1975. In the late 1970s Suriname's economy continued to stagnate. Unemployment was high, and most of the population had incomes at the minimum subsistence level. On February 25, 1980, after the government's refusal to sanction trade union activity within the armed forces, a group of non-commissioned army officers seized control of the government. The coup was welcomed by most of the population. The National Military Council (Nationale Militaire Raad; NMR), installed after the coup, called on the moderate wing of the PNR to form a Cabinet composed mostly of civilians. After the new Cabinet proclaimed that Suriname would return to democracy in two years, the Dutch government agreed to finance an emergency development program.

After the military coup in 1980, government expenditures rose dramatically, particularly defence spending. The economy, moreover, steadily deteriorated, as a result of the suspension of foreign aid, the stagnation of private foreign investment, and the decline of the export (especially bauxite) sector. The country's domestic affairs continued to be strained, reflecting an uncertain and tense relationship between the military, with de facto power, and the nominal civilian government led by a president. The military leaders, initially without a clear political ideology, began to take a conciliatory approach toward left-wing radical factions close to the NMR, which led to the formation in August 1981 of the Revolutionary Front, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Dési Bouterse. The Front included the Revolutionary People's Party (Revolutionaire Volkspartij; RVP), the PNR, and some of the trade and farm workers' unions. By the following year, however, as military leaders showed few signs of willingness to surrender control, trade unions, business associations, and professional groups began to proclaim their discontent. The conflict reached a climax in December 1982 when 15 prominent civilians were executed. The Netherlands and the United States immediately suspended development aid. In February 1983 a left-wing coalition was able to form a government, but a strike in the vital bauxite industry and the threat of a general strike led to its dismissal by the military within one year.

Raids by the Surinamese Liberation Army, a guerrilla group better known as the Jungle Commando (JC; consisting mainly of Bush Negroes), disrupted bauxite mining and led to the killing of many Bush Negro civilians by the National Army; thousands of Bush Negroes fled to French Guiana. The deteriorating economic and political situation forced the military to open a dialogue with the leaders of the principal political parties that had operated before the coup. In 1985 a National Assembly was formed; a new Cabinet of Ministers was installed the following year, and a new constitution was approved in a referendum on 30 September 1987. Elections held on 25 November 1987, resulted in the defeat of the political wing of the military. The Front for Democracy and Development (Front voor Democratic en Ontwikkeling; FDO), a coalition of the VHP, NPS, and KTPI, formed a new government.

In 1988 the Suriname and French governments (the latter as the sovereign of neighbouring French Guiana) began peace negotiations with the JC on the repatriation of the Bush Negroes and the incorporation of the JC in the police force. An agreement signed in July 1989 was opposed by the military as well as by the Tucayana Amerindians, a group of native Indians armed by the military. On 24 December 1990, military leaders once again seized control of the government.

In response to political pressure from the United States, The Netherlands, France, and the Organization of American States, elections were held on 25 May 1991. The New Front for Democracy and Development, which included the old Front and the Suriname Labour Party (Surinaamse Partij van de Arbeid; SPA), won a majority of seats in the National Assembly and elected Ronald Venetiaan president. The new government quickly passed an act that officially deprived the military of all political power and in 1992 signed an agreement with the JC and the Tucayana regarding repatriation of Bush Negroes from French Guiana. Venetiaan sought to rein in both inflation and the budget deficit, but his reform efforts were hampered by a bloated bureaucracy and by cocaine trafficking, in which the Suriname military and former president Bouterse were implicated. Bouterse had retained broad appeal in Suriname; he served as president of the National Democratic Party (Nationale Democratische Partij; NDP) and was widely viewed as the real power behind Jules Wijdenbosch, who was elected president of the country in 1996.

In 1997 the government of The Netherlands issued an arrest warrant for Bouterse on charges of drug smuggling, but Suriname failed to extradite him; in 1999 he was convicted in absentia and sentenced to 16 years in prison. During Wijdenbosch's administration (1996–2000) Suriname was beset with economic problems - an International Monetary Fund report declared the country "practically bankrupt" - and a deterioration of social services. Facing protests, Wijdenbosch called early elections, and in 2000 Venetiaan returned to the presidency. Under his guidance, the economy improved, the armed forces were depoliticized, and loans were negotiated with The Netherlands and the Inter-American Development Bank to finance health, education, and social programs. Venetiaan was re-elected president in 2005 in a special session of the National Assembly after no candidate claimed a two-thirds majority in the general elections. Tensions within the SPA stalled legislative progress, however. Moreover, in the early 21st century Suriname faced several seemingly intractable problems - among them a vast criminal economy that included drug trafficking and gold smuggling. The country also lost a longstanding maritime border dispute with neighbouring Guyana, which gained promising oil-rich zones from Suriname in the ruling.

Capital: Paramaribo

Government: Republic

Area: 163.820 km²

Population: 499.000 (2006)

Currency: Suriname guilder (100 cents); since 1 January 2004: Suriname dollar (100 cents)

Internet TLD: .sr

Dialling code: +597

Member of: United Nations and all related organizations

For more stamps see:

Surinam

Link

Suriname in Wikipedia.

Flag of Surinam in Flags of the World.

The website of the national post (no Philatelic Service).

Country description from the BBC.

Country description from the CIA.

Official website of the government of Suriname (cabinet of the president, in Dutch).

Permanent Mission of Suriname to the United Nations.

Stamp catalogue

International Year of the Child

date: 7 June 1979

designer: Stanny Handigman

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 14:12¾

remark: stamps also commemorate 30 years of SOS Children's Villages

1 20 c view of village, SOS emblem, text "YEAR OF THE CHILD"

blue, brown, yellow

(cat. Michel 880/SG 973/Yvert 767/Zbl 183)

2 60 c view of village, SOS emblem, text "YEAR OF THE CHILD"

blue, brown, green

(cat. Michel 881/SG 974/Yvert 768/Zbl 184)

International Year of Disabled Persons

date: 16 September 1981

designer: S. Kromoredjo

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 14:13

3 50 c recording studio, IYDP emblem, text "Internationaal Jaar / van Gehandicapten / 1981"

green, yellow

(cat. Michel 954/SG 1046/Yvert 826/Zbl 265)

4 100 c blind child reading Braille, IYDP emblem, text "Internationaal Jaar / van Gehandicapten / 1981"

olive green, yellow

(cat. Michel 955/SG 1047/Yvert 827/Zbl 266)

5 150 c IYDP emblem, text "Internationaal Jaar / van Gehandicapten / 1981"

red, yellow

(cat. Michel 956/SG 1048/Yvert 828/Zbl 267)

UNISPACE 82, Vienna

date: 13 January 1982

designer: S. Kromoredjo

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 14:12¾

6 35 c Earth with communication satellites in orbit, text "ONDERZOEK EN VREEDZAAM / GEBRUIK VAN DE

RUIMTE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 967/SG 1061/Yvert 839/Zbl 280)

7 65 c Space Shuttle, Earth, flags of different countries, text "ONDERZOEK EN VREEDZAAM / GEBRUIK VAN

DE RUIMTE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 968/SG 1062/Yvert 840/Zbl 281)

8 1 GLD US-USSR space link Apollo-Soyuz, Earth, text "ONDERZOEK EN VREEDZAAM / GEBRUIK VAN DE RUIMTE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 969/SG 1063/Yvert 841/Zbl 282)

ICAO 40th anniversary

date: 16 May 1984

designer: Studio Enschede

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 14:12¾

remark: stamp 9 meant to commemorate the visit of Charles Lindbergh to Suriname on 23 September 1929

with a Sikorsky S-38 water plane (first postal flight by PanAm), the stamp however shows a S-40 plane

that was not built until 1931

9 35 c Sikorsky S-40 water plane landing on the Suriname River, ICAO jubilee emblem, text "Landing Ch.

Lindberg op de Suriname Rivier"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1080/SG 1178/Yvert 949/Zbl 397)

10 65 c Surinam Airways De Havilland Twin Otter200/300, ICAO jubilee emblem, text "Surinam Airways sinds

1954"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1081/SG 1179/Yvert 950/Zbl 398)

World Food Day

date: 10 October 1984

designer: Studio Enschede

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 14:12¾

11 50 c udders producing milk for children, FAO emblem, text "WERELDVOEDSELDAG"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1106/SG 1206/Yvert 975/Zbl 425)

12 90 c platter of food, FAO emblem, text "WERELDVOEDSELDAG"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1107/SG 1207/Yvert 976/Zbl 426)

UNO 40th anniversary

date: 30 April 1985

designer: Studio Enschede

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 12¾:14

13 50 c UNO emblem, Suriname coat of arms, text "40 JAAR UNITED NATIONS"

multicoloured, background blue

(cat. Michel 1132/SG 1234/Yvert 1000/Zbl 453)

14 90 c UNO emblem, Suriname coat of arms, text "40 JAAR UNITED NATIONS"

multicoloured, background green

(cat. Michel 1133/SG 1235/Yvert 1001/Zbl 454)

International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

date: 2 September 1987

designer: Studio Muller

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 12¾:13¾

remark: part of a series of three stamps

15 90 c young boy, tent camp, IYSH emblem

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1220/SG 1331/Yvert 1005/Zbl 546)

16 120 c man, shanty town, IYSH emblem

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1221/SG 1332/Yvert 1006/Zbl 547)

IFAD 10th anniversary

date: 21 September 1988

designer: Doel Soekinta

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 12¾:13¼

17 105 c harvesting machine, IFAD emblem, text "IFAD / VOOR EEN WERELD / ZONDER HONGER"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1271/SG 1382/Yvert 1132/Zbl 595)

18 110 c man fishing, IFAD emblem, text "IFAD / VOOR EEN WERELD / ZONDER HONGER"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1272/SG 1383/Yvert 1133/Zbl 596)

19 125 c cultivation of plants, IFAD emblem, text "IFAD / VOOR EEN WERELD / ZONDER HONGER"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1273/SG 1384/Yvert 1134/Zbl 597)

20th UPU Congress, Washington DC/World Stamp Expo 89, Washington DC

date: 17 November 1989

designer: Studio Muller

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 13¾:12¾

size souv. sheet: 144 x 70 mm

remark: souvenir sheet sold in a special cover with a SFL 2,-- surcharge

20 110 c Suriname stamp 1976 25 c national flag, emblem, text "INTERNATIONALE / POSTZEGELTENTOONSTELLING /

WASHINGTON / 17 NOV. - 3 DEC. / 1989"

multicoloured, background yellow

(cat. Michel 1314/SG 1426/Yvert 1168/Zbl 639)

21 150 c USA stamp 1950 3 c White House, emblem, text "INTERNATIONALE POSTZEGELTENTOONSTELLING /

WASHINGTON / 17 NOV. - 3 DEC. / 1989"

multicoloured, background red

(cat. Michel 1315/SG 1427/Yvert 1169/Zbl 640)

22 250 c Suriname stamp 1976 60 c divided snake, emblem, text "INTERNATIONALE POSTZEGELTENTOONSTELLING /

WASHINGTON / 17 NOV. - 3 DEC. / 1989"

multicoloured, background light blue

(cat. Michel 1316/SG 1428/Yvert 1170/Zbl 641)

23 250 c souvenir sheet with stamps 20-22, UPU and exhibition emblems, map of United States and Suriname with

line between capital cities, text "INTERNATIONALE POSTZEGELTENTOONSTELLING / WASHINGTON 17 NOV.

- 3 DEC. 1989"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel block 51/SG MS 1429/Yvert BF 56/Zbl 642)

International Literacy Year

date: 19 January 1990

designer: Studio Muller

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 12¾:14

24 60 c literacy campaign emblem, text "international / jaar/ alfabetisering"

red, white

(cat. Michel 1320/SG 1434/Yvert 1174/Zbl 647)

25 110 c literacy campaign emblem, ILY emblem, text "volwassenen / educatie" and "international / jaar/

alfabetisering"

green, white

(cat. Michel 1321/SG 1435/Yvert 1175/Zbl 648)

26 120 c boy reading, literacy campaign emblem, ILY emblem, text "international / jaar/ alfabetisering"

white, red

(cat. Michel 1322/SG 1436/Yvert 1176/Zbl 649)

9th UPU Congress, London - reprint

date: 4 May 1990

designer: Studio Muller

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 13½:12¾

size souv. sheet: 100 x 72 mm

remarks: part of a series of three stamps for Stamp World London 1990; souvenir sheet sold in a special cover

with a SFL 2,-- surcharge

27 250 c United Kingdom stamp 1929 2½ d, exhibition emblem, text "150 JAAR POSTZEGELS"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1331/SG 1445/Yvert 1185/Zbl 658)

28 souvenir sheet with the complete series, old colonial postmarks, text "1840 Stamp World London 90 1990"

110 c Surinam air mail stamp 1930 10 c, exhibition emblem, text "150 JAAR POSTZEGELS"

200 c Great Britain stamp 1840 1 d, exhibition emblem, text "150 JAAR POSTZEGELS"

250 c United Kingdom stamp 1929 2½ d, exhibition emblem, text "150 JAAR POSTZEGELS"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel block 53/SG MS 1446/Yvert BF 58/Zbl 659)

UNO 50th anniversary

date: 26 June 1995

designer: Henna Brunings

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 13:14

29 ƒ 135 UN emblem, peace dove, number 50, text "50TH ANNIVERSARY UNITED NATIONS"

green, yellow, silver

(cat. Michel 1521/SG 1637/Yvert 1360/Zbl 851)

30 ƒ 740 UN emblem, peace dove, number 50, text "50TH ANNIVERSARY UNITED NATIONS"

purple, blue, silver

(cat. Michel 1522/SG 1638/Yvert 1361/Zbl 852)

Heinrich von Stephan death centenary

date: 31 January 1997

designer: Studio Muller

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 12¾:14

31 F 275 portrait, UPU emblem, text "Heinrich von Stephan"

dark brown

(cat. Michel 1587/SG 1705/Yvert /Zbl 916)

32 F 475 portrait, UPU emblem, text "Heinrich von Stephan"

dark blue

(cat. Michel 1588/SG 1706/Yvert /Zbl 917)

WHO 50th anniversary

date: 4 December 1998

designer: L. Wong Lok Sing

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 14:12¾

33 ƒ 400 mother and child, healthy foods, clean water, WHO jubilee emblem, text ""mother and child care""

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1672/SG 1795/Yvert /Zbl 1007)

34 ƒ 1000 mother and child, flower, WHO jubilee emblem, text ""mother and child care""

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1673/SG 1796/Yvert /Zbl 1008)

UPU 125th anniversary

date: 9 October 1999

designer: Kit Ling

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 13½:14

35 F 950 Earth with map of Suriname, stamp with ribbon flying towards satellite, UPU emblem, text "1874-1999 / 125^E

ANNIVERSAIRE / DE L'UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1709/SG 1828/Yvert /Zbl 1042)

36 F 1000 stamp with ribbon flying from satellite to ringed planet, UPU emblem, text "1874-1999 / 125^E ANNIVERSAIRE /

DE L'UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1710/SG 1829/Yvert /Zbl 1043)

A life free of violence - it's our right

date: 15 March 2001

designer: Liesel Jobity, Jamic Crichlow

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 12¾:14

37 SF 1400 female and male signs with text "EVERY WOMAN HAS THE RIGHT / TO BE FREE FROM / DOMESTIC /

VIOLENCE", text "UNITED NATIONS WOMAN HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1777/SG 1899/Yvert /Zbl 1110)

38 SF 4600 woman, human rights emblem, text "UNITED NATIONS WOMAN HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN / "A LIFE

FREE OF VIOLENCE ·IT'S OUR RIGHT""

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1778/SG 1900/Yvert /Zbl 1111)

World Heritage

date: 12 September 2001

designer: Studio Muller

printer: Joh. Enschede & Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands

perforated: 14:12¾

size souv. sheet: 72 x 75 mm

remark: printed in pairs of two stamps; on nr. 39 the emblem is misprinted as "AMERIC"

39 SF 1700 bishop's palace, Paramaribo, UPAEP/America emblem, text "Bisschopshuis"

multicoloured, country name in red

(cat. Michel 1789/SG 1911/Yvert /Zbl 1123)

40 SF 7300 presidential palace (former governor's residence), Paramaribo, UPAEP/America emblem,

text "Paleis van de President voormalig Gouverneurshuis"

multicoloured, country name in red

(cat. Michel 1790/SG 1912/Yvert /Zbl 1124)

41 souvenir sheet with stamps 39 and 40 in partly different colours, UPAEP/America emblem

multicoloured, country name in green

(cat. Michel block 84/SG MS 1913/Yvert /Zbl 1125)

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last revised: 1 June 2009