Suriname in the Long Twentieth Century This page intentionally left blank Suriname in the Long Twentieth Century
Domination, Contestation, Globalization
Rosemarijn Hoefte SURINAME IN THE LONG TWENTIETH CENTURY Copyright © Rosemarijn Hoefte, 2014. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2014 978-1-137-36012-0 All rights reserved. First published in 2014 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the United States— a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-47183-6 ISBN 978-1-137-36013-7 (eBook) DOI 10.1057/9781137360137
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the Library of Congress. A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Knowledge Works (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: January 2014 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 In memory of Marcel Höfte (1922–2008) This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS
List of Map, Figures, and Tables ix Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
One Setting the Scene: The Culture of Late Colonial Capitalism 1900–1940 27 Two The Growing Role of the State in Late Colonial Society 51 Three Discontent, Protest, and Repression in the 1930s 69 Four Resetting the Scene: Developments 1940–1975 91 Five Bauxite Mining in Moengo: Remnants of the Past and Signs of Modernity 113 Six Economic Collapse, Social Dislocation, and the Military Regime 133 Seven The Development of Paramaribo in the Second Half of the Century 159 Eight Leaving the Scene: A New Century 187
Notes 219 Bibliography 261 Index 279 This page intentionally left blank MAP, FIGURES, AND TABLES
Map 1 Current Map of Suriname xiii
Figures 3.1 Demonstration of Unemployed in Front of Governor’s Palace, June 17, 1931 73 3.2 Queen’s Day Paramaribo, Circa 1910 90 4.1 Public at May Day Parade, Paramaribo 1961 101 5.1 Aerial View of Moengo, 1950–1960 125 7.1 Share of Javanese and Hindustanis of Total Population Paramaribo 1921–2004 172 7.2 Population of Paramaribo According to Ethnicity in 2004 173
Tables 1.1 Population of Suriname According to Gender 1865–1929 29 1.2 Population of Suriname and Paramaribo by Ethnicity 1921 33 1.3 Rice Production in 100,000 Kg in Suriname 1911–1939 39 1.4 Gold Export in Kg and Guilders 1896–1930 42 1.5 Balata Export in Kg and Guilders 1891–1935 43 1.6 Main Export Products 1881–1940 46 4.1 Population of Suriname According to Gender 1950–2003 108 4.2 Population of Suriname According to Ethnicity 1950–1972 108 4.3 Migration to the Netherlands 1972–1975 110 7.1 Weight of Individual Categories in Total Consumption of Households in Paramaribo 1953–2008 178 7.2 Homeownership in Paramaribo According to Ethnicity 1980–2001 179 This page intentionally left blank ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is the outcome of a study on the social history of Suriname in the twentieth century, financed by The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research / NWO. Three postdocs with different backgrounds and perspectives made this an interdisciplinary and fruitful research proj- ect. Anouk de Koning and Rivke Jaffe started their research with great enthusiasm. After one year, however, Rivke got an “offer she couldn’t refuse.” Fortunately, Hebe Verrest could join our group a few months later. The insights of Anouk, Hebe, and Rivke are visible throughout this book. Moreover, the chapter on Moengo is co-authored with Anouk, while the chapter on Paramaribo is written with Hebe. Tim van Gilst assisted us with the analysis of census data. In September 2008, Anouk and Hebe organized the NWO-financed workshop “Cultural Dynamics in Twentieth-Century Suriname in a Caribbean Context.” We are grateful to the international and Dutch par- ticipants for sharing their expertise and insights: Marieke Bloembergen, Ad de Bruijne, Jerry Egger, Steve Garner, Ruben Gowricharn, Francio Guadeloupe, Harold Jap-A-Joe, Guno Jones, Michiel van Kempen, Aisha Khan, Ellen Klinkers, Patricia Mohammed, Alex van Stipriaan, Deborah Thomas, Paul Tjon Sie Fat, Wieke Vink, and Gloria Wekker. Along the way we have incurred many debts and our heartfelt thanks go to Astrid Aarssen, Ine Apapoe, Freek Bakker, Hans Buddingh’, Eithne Carlin, Lisa Djasmadi, Regie Dors, Lila Gobardhan-Rambocus, Harold Jap-a-Joe, Rudi van Kanten, Joke Kardux, Ellen Klinkers, Sobha Lalkoe, Harriëtte Mingoen, Lilian Mungroop, Mariana Parijo, Sally Price, Peter Sanches, Usha Schalkwijk, Roekmienie Sewradj-Debipersad, Siegmien Staphorst, Alex van Stipriaan, Julia Terborg, Bonno Thoden van Velzen, Ronald Tjoe-Ny, Joop Vernooij, Amin Wartim, and all our informants without whom this book could not have been written. I am privileged to work at KITLV / Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies, with its marvelous library and great colleagues. My special thanks go to my colleagues to Michelle van den Berk, Rini Hogewoning, Gerry van Klinken, Liesbeth Ouwehand, Jessica Vance Roitman, Irene Rolfes, Nico van Rooijen, Jan van Rosmalen, Alfred Schipper, Josephine Schrama, Ellen Sitinjak, Fridus Steijlen, and xii Acknowledgments
Dan Vennix whose combination of professional expertise and friendship have helped make this book better. Jonathan van de Bilt gave me a hand in the final stages of preparing the manuscript. At Palgrave Macmillan, Chris Chappell ably guided this book through the stages of publication. I want to express my gratitude to Ad de Bruijne, Gert Oostindie, and Gloria Wekker for their much appreciated assistance and willingness to comment on one or more chap- ters. Gert also intensively participated in drafting the research proposal for this project. Nigel Bolland and Kevin Yelvington traveled across the Atlantic to discuss the project and the first drafts. Their presence was inspiring and their expertise on the contemporary Caribbean truly helped to improve this study. I am forever in debted to Peter Meel, Hans Ramsoedh, and Henk Schulte Nordholt who extensively commented on the entire manuscript. Peter and Hans shared their great knowledge about Suriname and saved me from many a pitfall; it is always a pleasure to discuss Suriname’s history and politics with them. Henk’s cheerful but critical comments invariably showed me the larger perspective. Gran tangi to all of you; needless to say all remaining mistakes are mine. This book is in memory of my father who passed away in 2008 and who instilled his love of history in me. WANICA
Suriname COMMEWIJNE DISTRICT
Nieuw Amsterdam Nieuw Nickerie Paramaribo MAROWIJNE Wageningen Lelydorp Moengo CORONIE Paranam Corantijn Albina NICKERIE Onverwacht
SARAMACCA Commewijne
Apoera Bitagron Zanderij
Nickerie Brokopondo PARA Marowijne
Coppename Lake Brokopondo
SaramaccaPokigron BROKOPONDO
BAKHUIS MOUNTAINS
Cottica
Benzdorp Tapanahoni
Apetina
Palumeu SIPALIWINI
Litani
Kwamalasamutu
disputed territory
0 60 km
Map 1 Current Map of Suriname