PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Oct 10, CMC – Members of various indigenous communities are marking Maroon Day on Thursday with a warning that they are not prepared to “give up our traditional habitats without a fight”.
“It is time for the Surinamese government to take its responsibility and recognize the land rights of the Okanisi Maroon community and those of the other Maroon and Indigenous communities. We demand immediate action,” said the Gaanma(the paramount chief) of the Okanisi people, Bono Velantie.
“Any further delay will be seen as a deliberate attempt to deprive us of our rightful heritage. We are prepared to continue this fight with all legal means available, determined to defend our rights as our ancestors did,” he added.
Velantie, who has been appointed for life by the Maroon people and is also recognized and sworn in by the Surinamese government, said the Okanisi people will no longer be misled by the continued delay and lack of respect of the Surinamese government regarding the recognition of land rights.
(Details in Full News section)
CMC/2024