Thanks to all donators !
Thanks to the support of TOOKA MOVE we are participating in an important act and supporting the delegation directly, giving them the possibility to stand for their rights and finally to conserve an yet unspoiled and marvelous part of the rainforest.
The Saramaka delegation comprises of following attendees (both Maroons and experts):
| Wanze Eduards | Head Captain and Chairman of ASA (Association of Saramaka Authorities) |
| ... | |
| Cesar Adjako | Captain (Gaama) |
| ... | |
| Belfon Aboikonie | Head Captain (Gaama) of the Saramaccans |
| ... | |
| Eddie Fonkie | Head Captain of the Transmigrationsvillages in the District Brokopondo |
| ... | |
| Stuart Hugo Jabini | Secretary of ASA (Association of Saramaka Authorities) |
| ... | |
| Ine Apapoe | Governemental Expert, assist FPP (Forest People Programme) in Suriname |
| ... | |
| Fergus McKay | Lawyer, FPP (Forest People Programme) |
| ... | |
| David Padilla | Co-Lawyer, collaborating with Fergus MaKay of FPP |
| ... | |
| Adiante Fanzisonoe | Translator Saramaccans-Englisch |
| ... | |
| Prof. Richard Price | Antropologist, has lived for several years in the villages of the Saramaccans, editor of divers books about culture and way of live of the Saramaccans. Expert witness |
| ... | |
| George Leidsman | Historian, (Transmigration Saramaccans, construction of Afobaka dam) |
| ... | |
| Sylvi Adjako | Victim of the chinese Wood company (Bulldozers rolled over her garden, everything was destroyed) |
| ... |
written opinion to the attention of the Court:
| Dr. Robert Goodland | Expert for die consequential damage or loss of the construction of the Afobaka dam, consequences for the lokal communities. Expert witness |
| ... | |
| Prof. Martin Scheinin | Expert for Human Rights at UN |
| ... | |
| Dr. Peter Pool | Geographer, collaborating with the creation of the Saramacca map. Expert witness |
| ... | |
| Mariska Muskiet | University Paramaribo, Expert witness |
abstract of the opinions
15. Mai 07
The Maroon’s Conquest
by Shirley Ugalde, San José
During the last decade, the Maroon people of Saramaka in Surinam have fought a battle against the government Suriname for the concessions of permissions given to Chinese logging companies in areas that have historically belonged to the Maroons.
After having extenuated all the internal resources for this battle, the Maroons decided to take this case to the Interamerican Commission of Human Rights. On June 23 2006, The Commission presented the case to the Interamerican Human Rights Court against the Suriname State. The Commission arguments that the State of Suriname has supposedly violated the right to land ownership directly affecting the people of Saramaka.
The pinnacle of the battle was on May 8th and 9th of 2007 when the Interamerican Court of Human Rights had a hearing of the witnesses, an expert proposed by the Commission of the Interamerican Human Rights and the victims’ representative. There were also three witnesses and an expert proposed by the sued State. This case’s final verdict will be given in June 2007 when the court meets again.
Mr. Stuart Hugo Jabini, President of the Samarakas Authorities Association, who was part of the Maroon Committee, seemed pleased and positive that they will win this case and it will be a triumph for the American indigenous groups who are constantly discriminated by law and whose rights are not recognized.
«I believe that the result will be positive for the Maroons because the State has said incoherencies and the judges have realized that their statements are not consistent».
«This will be a victory, not only for the Maroon People of Saramaka but also for all American Indigenous who during centuries have battled to regain their rights».
For Janini, this will be the opportunity to establish a precedent for the respect of the territories which have traditionally belonged to indigenous people.
«We now struggle against logging but this is a battle that we are fighting to preserve our right over these lands. In the same way that the government is currently giving permission to foreign logging companies, in the future we will have foreign mining companies as we have seen happening to our neighbors.»
«We want to win this case so that the government establishes the official rules which confirm that the Saramakas people have the right ownership over these lands».
9.-11. Mai 07
Hearing in front of the Court.
Most probably, a Dutch journalist will be present.
7. Mai 07
The Saramaka delegation travels to Costa Rica.
30. April 07
ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
OF MARCH 30, 2007 CASE OF THE SARAMAKA COMMUNITY V. SURINAME
The Dokument can be downloaded as pdf 
....
30. April bis 4. Mai 07
The last preparations have to be taken; one passport is missing and has to be reissued. Cloth, shoes and suitcases need to be purchased for the Gaa-ma's (captains of the villages), a detail that should not be disregarded when it comes to the hearing in front of the judge.
20. April 07
As the delegation was reduced from 8 to 5 Saramaka people, some of the witnesses have to submit their testimony affidavit.
Experts have prepared a memorandum detailling the dammages caused to land, waters and villages.
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The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which is an autonomous judicial institution of the Organization of American States established in 1979, and whose objective is the application and interpretation of the American Convention on Human Rights and other treaties concerning this same matter.
It is formed by jurists of the highest moral standing and widely recognized competence in the area of Human Rights, who are elected in an individual capacity.
Justice is the ideal, morally correct state of things and persons. For many, justice is overwhelmingly important: "Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought."For many, it has not been achieved: "We do not live in a just world."
Social justice refers to conceptions of a just society, where "justice" refers to more than just the administration of laws. It is based on the idea of a society which gives individuals and groups fair treatment and a just share of the benefits of society. Different proponents of social justice have developed different interpretations of what constitutes fair treatment and a just share..
(source: wikipedia)