Civil organizations and individual citizens play a vital role in promoting, defending, and protecting human rights. In this article, I focus on some local pioneers who dedicated themselves to human rights on Curaçao more than 40 years ago.
The Committee for Human Rights Curaçao (the Committee) was established on March 18, 1981. The impetus for its creation was the inhumane treatment of Haitian refugees on the island. At that time, Curaçao also lacked a functioning refugee policy and often responded, as it still does today, repressively to refugee issues. The initial members of the Committee included Carla Giskus, Orlando Cuales, Mila Palm, Stanley Lamp, Charles do Rego, and Cees Streefkerk. Charles do Rego became the face of the Committee. Later, Alvin Nicatia, Margo Guda, and Mario Kleinmoedig joined.
From September 6 to 11, 1981, the Committee organized an educational and informational exhibition against fascism in the region. This exhibition, featuring photos, slides, and posters, was a collaboration with Carl van der Meulen, Fifi Rademaker, Egbert Ridderplaat, and Gladys do Rego. The exhibition marked the official launch of the Committee. The Roman Catholic School Board generated additional publicity by prohibiting students from visiting the exhibition. Additionally, poetry and protest song activities were organized in collaboration with Gibi Basilio, Teatro Foro, Stanley Cras, the group Kanto di Protesta, and Angel Salsbach with his trio.
In 1982, the Committee opposed Acting Commissioner F. Metry, who had halted the project "Bo ta bai vota?" due to "a lack of police officers." The Committee also defended press freedom following an attack on Orlando Cuales of Radio Curom in 1981. In addition to awareness activities, the Committee succeeded, after more than a year of struggle, in securing the release of K. Koeijers, who had been wrongfully detained in Venezuela.
The Committee also showed solidarity with other peoples. Under the leadership of Mrs. Burney Every, the play Un Anochi Largu was performed, which dealt with four Chilean political prisoners following the Pinochet coup. The actors included Mila Palm, Greta Trapenberg, Laura Quast, Rina Penso, and Edison Bornachera. In 1983, the Committee called for the withdrawal of American troops from Grenada after the U.S. occupation. Earlier, the Committee condemned the atrocities against the people of El Salvador by the Salvadoran government.
The Committee also inspired others to advocate for human rights. A pamphlet was issued against police violence, which reported the abuse of detainee H.K. Every, who later died in a police car (1990). Although the author of the pamphlet was arrested, 11 witnesses and Professor Dr. Pounder of Amnesty International (AI) confirmed, contrary to the government's pathologist, that Every’s death was consistent with having a knee pressed on his chest while he was on the ground. There were also protests against other injustices, such as in the cases of Fabias, Matheu, Fluonia, and especially in the case of L. Neil (1991), who died in prison from injuries consistent with rape by a prison guard with a regulation baton (AI).
Human rights continue to require attention to this day, despite the occasional resistance. We are grateful for the work of these pioneers.
Next time, we will focus on another human rights organization: the Committee for Friendship and Solidarity with the Peoples.
Sources: Conversation and correspondence with Charles do Rego (August 13, 2024, and August 21, 2024), Committee against Torture (1994) University of Minnesota Human Rights Library, Amigoe (September 3, 1981, March 19, 1981, June 15, 1981).
Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia & Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He’s from Curaçao and has a MBA from the University of Iowa. (USA).
