31 86(11). Moiwana Village was settled by N’djuka clans late in the 19th Century. By 1986, the ten camps that formed the village stretched along approximately four kilometers of the Paramaribo-Albina road in eastern Suriname. The community’s traditional hunting, farming and fishing territory extended for tens of kilometers into the forest on either side of that road.25 Suriname’s Internal Conflict a) An introduction 86(12). On February 25, 1980 Desire Bouterse led a violent coup of Suriname’s young democratic government and established a military regime that would commit gross and systematic human rights violations. In 1986 an armed opposition force known as the Jungle Commando began operating in the eastern part of the country, attacking military installations in the area. Many of the Jungle Commando’s members – including their leader, Ronnie Brunswijk – were Maroon.26 86(13). That same year, the national army responded to the Jungle Commando’s aggressions by carrying out extensive military actions in the eastern region of Suriname. From 1986 to 1987, at least 200 civilians were killed during army operations; most of these victims were Maroon villagers. During this same time period, approximately 15,000 persons fled the combat zone to the capital city, Paramaribo, and another 8,500 escaped to French Guiana.27 Although some 1,000 Amerindians fled the area, the majority of the displaced were Maroons, representing more than one third of that ethnic group’s total population.28 86(14). Suriname returned to a civil government after the elections of November 1987; however, the military once again seized power in the country in December 1990. Although the State held democratic elections the following year, the military continued to exert substantial influence on national society throughout that decade.29 b) The 1986 attack on Moiwana Village and its consequences 25 Cf. affidavit of expert witness Thomas Polimé, sworn on August 20, 2004 (case file on preliminary objections and possible merits, reparations and costs, vol. III, pp. 702 and 703). 26 Cf. Amnesty International Report, Suriname: Violations of Human Rights. September 1987. (exhibits to the application, vol. II, exhibit 16, p. 281); and U.N. Economic and Social Council. Summary or Arbitrary Executions. E/CN.4/1988/22. Report by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Amos S. Wako, pursuant to Economic and Social Council Resolution 1987/60 of 19 January 1988 (exhibits to the application, vol. II, exhibit 19, p. 358). 27 Cf. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Annual Report 1986-1987 dated September 22, 1987, Chapter IV: Political Rights, Suriname. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.71 doc.9 rev.1. (exhibits to the application, vol I, exhibit 9, pp. 263-265). 28 Cf. U.N. Economic and Social Council. Summary or Arbitrary Executions. E/CN.4/1988/22 Report by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Amos S. Wako, pursuant to Economic and Social Council Resolution/60 of 19 January 1988 (exhibits to the application, vol. II, exhibit 19, p. 358). 29 Fact recognized by the State in its answer to the application (case file from preliminary objections, and possible merits, reparations and costs, vol. II, pp. 345 – 346). Cf. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Annual Report 1989-1990 dated May 17, 1990, Chapter IV: Situation on Human Rights in Several States, Suriname. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.77 doc.7 rev.1 (exhibits to the application, vol. I, exhibit 11, p. 223); and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Annual Report 1990-1991 dated February 22, 1991, Chapter IV: Situation on Human Rights in Several States, Suriname. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.79 doc.12 rev.1 (exhibits to the application, vol. I, exhibit 12, p. 229).