Boosting Active Nonviolence in Suriname

La Suriname Opete Association, collaborator with the 2ª World March, is promoting dialogue and nonviolent ways of resolving conflicts in Suriname.

On this occasion, it has led to the rapprochement of Surinamese tribes with the Brazilian government, represented by the Brazilian Ambassador to Suriname.

The peaceful route is the solution3-960

The peaceful way is the solution4

The 22 of July 2019, a group of armed miners invaded the protected indigenous territory in the Northeast of Brazil, near the French Guiana border, and killed an indigenous leader, Emyra Wajãpi.

The Surinamese tribes were showing their outrage and concern

Faced with this type of action, the Surinamese tribes were showing their indignation and concern, because episodes of violence are frequent, they are actions that affect indigenous communities that live in the common border areas between Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname, and that cannot neither go unpunished, nor allow oneself, nor, of course, repeat itself.

In connection with the murder of Emyra Wajãpi, the trio of Surinamese tribes, in collaboration with the environmental organization Opete, offered a petition to the Brazilian ambassador to Suriname Paramaribo to express their dissatisfaction with what happened and the Brazilian government pointed out the rights of the indigenous population.

On this basis, 3 members have been invited to Brazil for a bilateral conversation with indigenous peoples in Boa Vista.