Bram Behr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bram Behr
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| Born |
Abraham Maurits Behr
18 January 1951 |
| Died | 8 December 1982 (aged 31) |
| Occupation | Journalist, politician |
Abraham Maurits "Bram" Behr (born January 18, 1951 – died December 8, 1982) was an important journalist and politician from Suriname. He was known for his strong opinions and for speaking out against unfair rule. Bram Behr published a magazine called De Rode Surinamer and edited a newspaper named Mokro.
He also started a political group called the Communist Party of Suriname (KPS) in 1973. Behr was a strong voice against the military government led by Dési Bouterse. Sadly, he was killed along with 14 other people who opposed the government on December 8, 1982. This event is known as the December murders.
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Who Was Bram Behr?
Bram Behr was born in Curaçao in 1951. When he was young, he played the violin in a music group. Later, he became a math teacher. He cared a lot about helping people.
Behr taught adults who couldn't read or write. He also helped workers organize protests to ask for better working conditions. He believed everyone deserved fair treatment.
Bram Behr's Work as a Journalist
Bram Behr was a very well-known journalist in Suriname. He was the editor of the newspaper Mokro. Since 1970, he also edited a magazine called De Rode Surinamer, which means "The Red Surinamese".
This magazine spoke out against what Behr saw as "colonial imperialism" from the United States. He wanted Suriname to be truly independent. Besides writing for newspapers and magazines, he also wrote books.
Starting a Political Party
On June 24, 1973, Bram Behr helped start the Communist Party of Suriname. This party aimed to bring about big changes in the country. Behr believed in a society where everyone was equal.
He became a leader in this new political group. His goal was to fight for the rights of ordinary people.
Standing Up to the Military Government
In 1980, there was a military takeover in Suriname. At first, Bram Behr supported this change. He hoped it would lead to a better future for the country.
However, he soon realized that the new military government, led by Dési Bouterse, was not good for the people. Behr became one of the main people who spoke out against this government. He was arrested many times because of his strong views.
The December Murders
Bram Behr continued to write and speak against the military government. On April 7, 1982, he was arrested again. This time, it was for writing a book about the bad things the military was doing.
On December 8, 1982, a very sad event happened. Bram Behr and 14 other people who opposed the government were killed by the military. This happened at Fort Zeelandia in Paramaribo. These killings are known as the December murders.
Bram Behr was buried in a cemetery in Paramaribo on December 13, 1982. He is remembered as a brave journalist and politician who fought for justice in Suriname.
