Länderinformation über Surinam

Terrain The north of Suriname mainly consists of a swampy coastal plain, which is up to 80 km wide. It merges into the central plateau, which contains vast savannahs, tracts of dunes, and forested areas. To the south, a densely forested mountainous region rises up to an altitude of 1,280 m. The numerous rivers include the Marowijne (Maroni), which delineates part of the border with French Guiana; the Corantijn (Courantyne), delineating the Guyana border; and the Coppename, Saramacca, and Suriname. Climate The climate is tropical, with annual temperatures between 22.8 and 32.2°C. The major rainy season is from April to July, with a shorter one in December and January. Fauna/Flora 90% of the country's surface is covered with rain forest. Still, the country is rich in grassland and hilly regions with typical vegetation patterns. So far, the mangrove coast and the swampy areas have hardly been harmed by the country's development. Suriname is characterized by a huge diversity in animal life including tortoises, birds with multicoloured feathers, tapirs, ocelots, and monkeys. History/Politics Before the Europeans arrived, the territory of present-day Suriname was inhabited by Arawak, Carib, and Warrau Native Americans. In 1581 the Dutch were the first to enter the country, and English traders began to colonize the region in the first half of the 17th century. In 1667 Britain ceded its part of the colony to the Netherlands in exchange for New Amsterdam (present-day New York). The Dutch engaged in slave trade until slavery was abolished in 1863. In 1922 Suriname became part of the Netherlands, and in 1954 the new constitution elevated its status to that of a coequal member of the kingdom. In 1975 the country was granted independence under its prime minister Henck Arron, a Creole. About 40,000 people took advantage of keeping Dutch citizenship and emigrated to the Netherlands which virtually left the country devoid of any qualified labour force. In 1977 the first elections of the new republic were held, and Arron was able to retain his majority. In February 1980 he was overthrown by a military coup. The new government was accused of corruption and was overthrown in turn by another military coup which brought Lieutenant Colonel Désiré ("Dési") Bouterse to power. In 1986 a guerrilla war broke out, which disrupted the country's economy. After the adoption of the new constitution of 1987, a civilian government was appointed. In the same year parliamentary elections were held. In 1988 Ramsewak Shankar, former agriculture minister, was elected president by the National Assembly. Shankar agreed on pardoning the guerrilla fighters (which were still active) and the possibility of their members keeping their arms when moving within the rain forest. Bouterse and the National Democratic Party opposed the agreement underlining that this would lead to legalizing an autonomous paramilitary force. A nother military coup ousted the Shankar government in 1990 and an interim president was appointed. After the parliamentary elections in May 1991, former education minister Ronald Venetiaan was appointed president. In 1992 a peace treaty was signed between the government and the oppositional politico-military groups and Bouterse officially resigned from politics. In September 1996 Jules Wijdenbosch was elected president. He was succeeded by Ronald Venetiaan in May 2000. Economy Mining and processing of bauxite, caoline, and aluminium is the most important branch of industry. Additional industries include lumbering and plywood manufacturing and the manufacture of molasses and rum. Agriculture is confined mainly to the coastal plain and the river valleys. The chief crop is rice. In addition, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruits, bananas, and sugar cane are grown. Shrimp fishing is expanding along the coast. Major exports are alumina, aluminium, and bauxite. Most of the imports consist of fuels and foods. Culture Immigration of workers from many countries (especially from Asia) during the 19th century has contributed to a complex idiosyncratic ethnic composition of the Suriname people. This multiethnic pattern is also featured in the Gamelan, an orchestra originating on Java and Bali playing traditional percussion, wind, and stringed instruments. Its music accompanies mainly shadow plays and ritual dances. Sculpture and carvings are chiefly produced by people of Amerindian or African descent. The Hindu New Year's festival, Holi Phagwah, is held in March or April. An important Muslim holiday is Id ul fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan (the period of fasting).