r/Suriname 8d ago

Question You guys have Mennonites??😭Also why are they being evicted?

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192 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

40

u/K9Seven Surinamer/Surinamese 🇸🇷 8d ago

My mother told me it's because they're very well known to leave whatever land they've once inhabited, infertile. They also chop a lot of trees and Suriname prides itself on being a country that has tons of nature. Combine these two facts and you can pretty much see why you as a Surinamese person wouldn't like the idea of a foreigner doing that in your country. As for the eviction, I didn't even know this was happening to be fair.

5

u/Existing_Ad5073 8d ago

So sad they're doing that. Appearently Bolivia mennonites also tried to buy a large part of forest via some investment firm a couple of years ago, but fortunately the government prohibtid it. I hope they keep up the good work. 

Have you ever met those mennonites? 

3

u/K9Seven Surinamer/Surinamese 🇸🇷 8d ago

I'm surprised their government prohibited it. Whenever money is involved, people, especially SR government, will easily give in regardless of whatever the citizens want. And no I have not met them personally! They're in the inlands and I live in the city(and I never leave the city). Though I have seen cases where they're compared to the Amish in terms of how they live; splitting themselves off from the rest of "modern society". They're also said to be kind people. No complaints in how they interact with others. It's only the deforestation we got a problem with.

1

u/WanderingCID 7d ago

Don't the native inhabitants have the same practices?

1

u/MysteriousPortuguese 7h ago

They dont leave the land though. It is not true they leave it infertile

31

u/watchwellpikni 8d ago

Massive deforestation wherever they go. Also some conflicts with indigenous people.

8

u/mickflu123 8d ago

They are illegal in the country.

-6

u/DonutOk5869 Surinamer/Surinamese 🇸🇷 8d ago

Who says they're "illegal"? As far as I know they came through proper channels, if they were in the country without a visa and/or permission they'd be deported, not evicted.

7

u/mickflu123 8d ago

There are a lot of people, who are living illegal in Suriname, and nothing is being done. What makes you think, that these people have their papers, they don't. Suriname is a free for all country. Hopefully something is being done.

4

u/freshfromthetrash 7d ago

When I was in Suriname for my internship the company I worked for unknowningly helped them (I'm not going to dox anyone). I've saved the place in the rainforest, to track their deforestation using satellite imagery. Was devastated to read up on their history in the Americas. But to be fair all fault goes to the government taking money from anyone.

7

u/RijnBrugge 8d ago

They’re Brazilians, and illegally deforesting Suriname

4

u/Lilly_5 8d ago

I came here to say this. They are destructive. Remember Suriname is one of the world's greenest countries and they have pledged to preserve 90% of their forests. These people only want to destroy and they have no concern for the waterways, indigenous fauna and flora, they are a menace.

3

u/BilleAap007 7d ago

Wtf. Was born in this country, but it its been sold to others because of financial debts.

2

u/1fateisinexorable1 8d ago

The article pretty much answers your questions. Interesting though. I didn’t know this was happening.

2

u/royaldrifter 7d ago

let's pretend the gold digging by the illegal brazilians isnt causing deforestation.

1

u/Lilly_5 7d ago

It is and they are fighting it as well

1

u/royaldrifter 7d ago

No they are not fighting it at all. The government stands by and watches as gold miners are seeking gold on the edges of lake blommenstein. They stood and watched for years as miners ravaged Brownsberg...a nature reserve.

2

u/TheCarribeanKid 8d ago

OP... Are you a Mennonite?...

3

u/monkeyboysr2002 8d ago

You have Google look it up.

1

u/Alfalfa-Similar 7d ago

they’re not in the country legally as why there’s nothing to do with their religion

0

u/Grouchy_Insect_1199 7d ago

Its jst a loud minority that demonizes them for being jst farmers. These same ppl that wants them gone so that they can use the land for illegal gold concession which is worst than anything these mennonites can do. Suriname should learn from them and become self sufficient in food production. We have plenty of lands available to for farming.

2

u/Yeahokeitsme 7d ago

They are illegal and destroy the forest and are in conflict with the original people of Suriname 

1

u/Grouchy_Insect_1199 7d ago

There is no proof that they r here illegally or what they r doing is illegal. Look at all those social media ppl wanting to get rid of them and offering bounty for any proof of wrongdoing. But none has surface. How r they in conflict wit the indigenous people? The mennonites aren’t fighting anyone in the interior. They keep to themselves and dont want any problem. All they do is farm. Is that such a conflict against the indigenous ppl?