1990 Surinamese coup d'état

Military coup led by Ivan Graanoogst March 2023 1990 Surinamese coup d'état Suriname Map Including Disputed Areas.png Map of Suriname. 24 December 1990 Paramaribo, Suriname 5 51 8 N 55 12 14 W region:SR inline,title Suriname yes 125px Green pog.svg 10 Nexus of coup in Paramaribo Coup attempt succeeds. Ramsewak Shankar is overthrown. Dési Bouterse regained de facto control of the country. Suriname Government of Suriname Supported by:BrazilUnited StatesNovember 2025 Suriname Suriname National Army National Military Council Supported by:ChinaCubaNorth KoreaVietnamUnited States (allegedNovember 2025)November 2025 Involvement of six countries is a somewhat extraordinary claim, and listing the US on both sides even more so. Flag of the President of Suriname.svg Ramsewak Shankar Suriname Ivan Graanoogst thumb|right|Graanoogst in civilian clothing in 1981. The 1990 Surinamese coup d'état, usually referred to as the Telephone Coup (nl De Telefooncoup), was a military coup in Suriname on 24 December 1990. The coup was carried out by the acting commander-in-chief of the Suriname National Army (SNL), Police Chief Ivan Graanoogst. As a result of the coup, President Ramsewak Shankar was dismissed from power, and parliament and government were disbanded. Background 1980 Surinamese coup d'état On 25 February 1980, a military coup d'état occurred in Suriname that was organized by Senior Sergeant Dési Bouterse. Bouterse started to rule Suriname like a dictator, heading the National Military Council (promoting himself to Lieutenant Colonel, the highest rank in the SNL). He dissolved the National Assembly, suspended the constitution, imposed a state of emergency in the country, and created a special tribunal that considered the cases of members of the previous government. In 1987, Bouterse agreed to reinstate the constitution and hold an election if he remained the head of the SNL.19 July 2010 Президентом Суринама легитимно стал бывший диктатор страны Боутерсе Suriname's former dictator Bouterse has been legitimized as President of Suriname https://ria.ru/world/20100719/256433763.html 8 January 2019 RIA Novosti ru However, in the November 1987 general election, his National Democratic Party received only 3 of 51 seats in the National Assembly, and the opposition received 40. The presidential election, held on 25 January 1988, was won by Ramsewak Shankar,July 1988 These Rotarians https://books.google.com/books?id=HDYEAAAAMBAJ&q=Ramsewak+Shankar&pg=PA48 The Rotarian Rotary International 48 153 1 0035-838X who was disliked by the SNL, and Henck Arron, who was overthrown during the 1980 coup, was appointed prime minister. Tension between the government and the SNL was growing. On 22 December 1990, Bouterse resigned as commander-in-chief and stated that he could not fulfill the role of a clown who "does not have pride and dignity." He was temporarily succeeded by Graanoogst.24 December 1990 Suriname Military Chief Resigns, Complaining of a Lack of Support https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/24/world/suriname-military-chief-resigns-complaining-of-a-lack-of-support.html registration 17 December 2020 The New York Times Reuters Coup On 24 December 1990, around midnight Suriname Time (UTC−03:00), Graanoogst told President Shankar by telephone that he was being deposed and that he and his government "had better stay home."de Vries Ellen 2012 'Als deze foto het symbool is van onze natie, dan zijn we in problemen' - over een foto en een coup 'If this photo is the symbol of our nation, then we are in trouble' - on a photo and a coup http://www.ellendevries.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/kerstcoup.pdf Journal of Suriname and Caribbean Studies nl 232–250 On 27 December, the government was dismissed, the National Assembly was dissolved,Suriname http://www.krugosvet.ru/enc/strany_mira/SURINAM.html?page=0,3#part-4761 8 January 2019 Encyclopedia Krugosvet ru and Johan Kraag was appointed as president on 29 December.30 December 1990 World IN BRIEF: SURINAME: Army's Presidential Choice Takes Oath https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-30-mn-10369-story.html 20 March 2019 The Los Angeles Times On 31 December, Bouterse was reappointed as commander-in-chief of the SNL. World reactions The Netherlands reacted negatively to the coup and stopped allocating funds for the development of Suriname. Only after the inauguration of President Ronald Venetiaan in 1991 did relations between Suriname and the Netherlands improve significantly. Because the international community perceived the coup negatively, the SNL was forced under international pressure to hold the May 1991 general election with the participation of international observers. Consequences Less than a year later, Lieutenant Colonel Bouterse again transferred power to the civilian government, which was again led by the opposition. Since then, Suriname has been governed by coalition government. From 1991 to 1996, the president was Ronald Venetiaan, an opponent of Bouterse. During the 2010 presidential election, Bouterse was elected president. References Bibliography Bangoer Aniel P. De telefooncoup: Grondwet, recht en macht in Suriname 1991 Bangoer 978-9-090-04635-8 Zoetermeer nl The Telephone Coup: Constitution, Law and Power in Suriname Category:Coups d'état in Suriname Category:Military regime in Suriname Category:1990 in Suriname Category:December 1990 in South America Category:1990 conflicts Category:1990s coups d'état