Caption: Defence Minister Uraiqit Ramsara paying tribute to soldiers killed during the 1986-1992 civil conflict

PARAMARIBO – Defence Minister Uraiqit Ramsaran, Monday paid tribute to the 72 soldiers who died during the 1986-1992 civil conflict, saying “they gave their lives for the safety and future of this country.

“We have not forgotten you; we recognise your sacrifice,”  he said as the fallen soldiers were honored Monday at the Monument to the Fallen on Gravenberchstraat.

“Suriname bows its head to these 72 heroes,” the minister said, as each of the names were called out and a Surinamese flag placed by a relative or a soldier.

“Their names may not be in every history book, but they are in our hearts,” said Army Commander Werner Kioe A Sen adding, “these heroes chose to serve the people and Suriname.”

Waldo Jameson, who advocates for ex-servicemen and who served during the conflict, took the opportunity to urge the new minister not to overlook the interests of this group.

Jameson said that many of the men live solely on disability benefits, as many of them do not receive pensions.

In July 1986, an armed group known as the Suriname Liberation Army (SLA) launched an armed struggle to restore democracy. The fighting escalated from hit-and-run attacks to much larger offensives on towns and infrastructure, and by November 1986, the SLA had captured the second largest city in the country.

The war was fought between the Jungle Commando led by Ronnie Brunswijk, whose members originated from the Maroon ethnic group, and the national army led by then-army chief and head of state Dési Bouterse.

The war began as a personal feud between Bouterse and Brunswijk, a Maroon who had served as Bouterse’s former bodyguard.

It was not until May 1991 that a democratically elected government resumed power in Suriname, followed in August 1992 by a peace agreement that ended the Interior War between the government and the Jungle Commandos. (CMC)