‘He fought for justice’

PARAMARIBO (CMC):

The Dutch government Monday offered an apology to the children and relatives of the Surinamese anti-colonial resistance fighter, Anton de Kom, who in 1932 was banned from entering the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country because of his left-wing ideas and activities.

Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra offered the apology to the family for the suffering De Kom and his family experienced at the hands of the authorities at the time.

As a result, the Dutch government, in consultation with the family and the Anton de Kom Foundation, has decided to establish a chair at the VU University Amsterdam. The chair, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will start in the academic year 2023-2024.

Shipped to Netherlands

“Anton de Kom was a brave man who fought for justice, equality and human dignity,” said Hoekstra.

“He did that as an anti-colonial thinker and writer, as an activist, and as a resistance hero. Unfortunately, these were not the words the then authorities used to describe him,” he added.

The Dutch government now acknowledges that De Kom was “impeded” in his activities, arrested in Suriname and then put on a ship to the Netherlands.

“And despite all that, he gave his life for the Netherlands by joining the resistance during World War II,” said Hoekstra.

“His important contribution to Dutch and Surinamese history, including as the author of the impressive and important book We slaves of Suriname, deserves honour and recognition. This chair will help Anton de Kom and his body of ideas get their rightful place in history education and the academic world,” Hoekstra said.

By establishing an Anton de Kom chair, the Dutch government is supporting a motion tabled by Surinamese legislator Van Ojik on January 28, 2021, highlighting De Kom’s contribution to Suriname’s development.

De Kom, an anti-colonial activist used his parents’ house in Paramaribo to offer his services to members of the working class informing marginalised groups and labourers of their rights. Large groups used to gather around the house, because De Kom was helping Javanese and Indians with their re-emigration.

But on February 1,1932, he was arrested while en route to the office of then governor Bram Rutgers with a large group of followers. However, in the days that followed large groups gathered in front of the Attorney General’s office to demand De Kom’s release.

On February 7, a large crowd gathered on the Oranjeplein, now called the Independent Square, amid rumours that De Kom would be released. But when the crowd refused to follow instructions from the police to leave the square, they were fired upon with two people being killed and several others injured.

De Kom was subsequently exiled to the Netherlands, because he was considered a threat to public order and peace.

During World War II, he joined the resistance, was arrested, and sent to concentration camps where he died.