2
The events that gave rise to the petition apparently occurred on December 31, 1987,
in Atjoni (village of Pokigron, District of Sipaliwini) and in Tjongalangapassi, District
of Brokopondo. In Atjoni, more than 20 male, unarmed Bushnegroes (Maroons)
had been attacked, abused and beaten with riflebutts by a group of soldiers. A
number of them had been wounded with bayonets and knives and were detained on
suspicion of belonging to the Jungle Commando, a subversive group. Some 50
persons witnessed these occurrences.
3.
According to the petition, the Maroons all denied that they were members of
the Jungle Commando. The Captain of the village of Gujaba made a point of
informing the commander in charge of the soldiers that the persons in question were
civilians from various different villages.
The commander disregarded this
information.
4.
The petition asserts that the soldiers allowed some of the Maroons to continue
on their way, but that seven of them, including a 15-year old boy, were dragged,
blindfolded, into a military vehicle and taken through Tjongalangapassi in the
direction of Paramaribo. The names of the persons taken by the soldiers, their place
and date of birth, insofar as is known, are as follows: Daison Aloeboetoe, of Gujaba,
born June 7, 1960; Dedemanu Aloeboetoe, of Gujaba; Mikuwendje Aloeboetoe, of
Gujaba, born February 4, 1973; John Amoida, of Asindonhopo (resident of Gujaba);
Richenel Voola, alias Aside or Ameikanbuka, of Grantatai (found alive); Martin
Indisie Banai, of Gujaba, born June 3, 1955; and, Beri Tiopo, of Gujaba (cf. infra,
paras. 65 and 66).
5.
The petition goes on to state that the vehicle stopped when it came to
Kilometer 30. The soldiers ordered the victims to get out or forcibly dragged them
out of the vehicle. They were given a spade and ordered to start digging. Aside was
injured while trying to escape, but was not followed. The other six Maroons were
killed.
6.
The petition states that on Saturday, January 2, 1988, a number of men from
Gujaba and Grantatai set out for Paramaribo to seek information on the seven
victims from the authorities. They called on the Coordinator of the Interior at
Volksmobilisatie and on the Military Police at Fort Zeeland, where they tried to see
the Head of S-2. Without obtaining any information regarding the whereabouts of
the victims, they returned to Tjongalangapassi on Monday, January 4. At Kilometer
30 they came across Aside, who was seriously wounded and in critical condition, and
the bodies of the other victims. Aside, who had a bullet in his right thigh, pointed
out that he was the sole survivor of the massacre, the victims of which had already
been partially devoured by vultures. Aside’s wound was infested with maggots and
his right shoulder blade bore an X-shaped cut. The group returned to Paramaribo
with the information. After 24 hours of negotiations with the authorities, the
representative of the International Red Cross obtained permission to evacuate Mr.
Aside. He was admitted to the Academic Hospital of Paramaribo on January 6, 1988,
but died despite the care provided. The Military Police prevented his relatives from
visiting him in the hospital. It was not until January 6, that the next of kin of the
other victims were granted permission to bury them.
7.
The original petitioner asserted that he spoke twice with Aside about the
events and that Aside’s version of what took place concurs with that obtained from
the eyewitnesses and the members of the search-party.