Louis Doedel
{{Short description|Surinamese trade unionist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Louis Doedel
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Louis Alfred Gerardus Doedel
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1905|7|26}}
| birth_place = Paramaribo, Surinam
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1980|1|10|1905|7|26}}
| death_place = Paramaribo, Suriname
| occupation = union leader
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
Louis Alfred Gerardus Doedel (26 July 1905 – 10 January 1980) was a Surinamese trade unionist. On 29 May 1937, he was involuntarily committed at the {{ill|Wolfenbüttel (institution)|nl|Wolfenbüttel (instelling)|lt=Wolfenbüttel}} psychiatric hospital by Governor Johannes Kielstra. Doedel was forgotten by the public and often presumed dead. He was not released until late 1979, and died shortly after release.{{cite news|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2369306-medisch-dossier-surinaamse-activist-doedel-opgedoken-hoop-op-eerherstel |title=Medisch dossier Surinaamse activist Doedel opgedoken: hoop op eerherstel |website=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|access-date=20 December 2021|language=nl|date=18 February 2021}}
Biography
Louis Doedel was born on 26 July 1905 in Paramaribo as an illegitimate child. In 1928, he went to Curaçao hoping to get a job at the Shell oil refinery.{{cite web|url=https://vakbondshistorie.nl/dossiers/louis-doedel-1905-1980/ |title=Louis Doedel (1905-1980)|website=Vakbonds Historie|access-date=20 December 2021|language=nl}} He found a job at the taxation office, however, his revolutionary ideas drew the attention of the police.{{cite web|url=https://www.suriname.nu/701vips/belangrijke06.html |title=DOEDEL, LOUIS|website=Suriname.nu|access-date=20 December 2021|language=nl}} On 28 February 1931, he was deported back to Suriname.
On 25 May 1931, Doedel founded a committee for the unemployed which was later renamed Surinaamse Volksbond. On 28 October 1931, a protest organised by Doedel turned into a two-day riot resulting in one death, two wounded, and 56 arrests.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_oso001200901_01/_oso001200901_01_0025.php |title=Politie en leger in Suriname |page=136|author=Daniël Tuijnman |magazine=OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis|year=2009|access-date=20 December 2021|language=nl}} In 1932, he founded {{ill|SAWO|nl|Landelijk Overleg van Surinaamse Organisaties in Nederland}}, a trade union, which was officially recognized. On 28 May 1937, he demanded to speak with Governor Kielstra, who refused to see him. The next day, Doedel returned covered in white clay, because white people were allowed in, and dropped his pants.
Kielstra used this incident to have Doedel involuntarily committed at the {{ill|Wolfenbüttel (institution)|nl|Wolfenbüttel (instelling)|lt=Wolfenbüttel}} psychiatric hospital. Officially, it was an observation for 28 days. On 18 March 1938, Doedel wrote a letter to Kielstra apologising for the incident, and asked to be allowed to work on a piece of land in Saramacca. His plea was ignored.{{cite news|url=https://www.parool.nl/columns-opinie/het-briefje-van-louis-doedel-maakte-diepe-indruk~b2b4af78/ |title=Het briefje van Louis Doedel maakte diepe indruk |website=Parool|access-date=20 December 2021|language=nl|date=13 January 2021|author=Patrick Meershoek|url-access=subscription}} During his stay at Wolfenbüttel, he received electroconvulsive therapy.
To the outside world, Doedel was forgotten and often presumed dead.{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2021/08/02/louis-doedel-1-hoe-kon-een-hele-natie-geloven-dat-hij-dood-was-a4053313 |title=Louis Doedel #1: Hoe kon een hele natie geloven dat hij dood was?|website=NRC Handelsblad|url-access=subscription|access-date=20 December 2021|date=2 August 2021|language=nl}} After 43 years of commitment, he was finally released in late 1979. At his release, he was no longer able to walk or talk.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=0%7C20e_eeuw%7C&identifier=ddd:011187982:mpeg21:a0029&resultsidentifier=ddd:011187982:mpeg21:a0029&rowid=2|title=Eerherstel voor Louis Doedel|website=De Vrije Stem via Delpher.nl|date=20 December 1979|access-date=21 December 2021|language=nl}} Doedel died several days later on 10 January 1980, at the age of 74.{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/14926 |title=Borstbeeld, eerste stap naar eerherstel Louis Doedel |website=Star Nieuws|access-date=20 December 2021|language=nl}} The government paid for his burial.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Doedel&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C1989%7C&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C1980%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010639706:mpeg21:a0007&resultsidentifier=ddd:010639706:mpeg21:a0007&rowid=3 |title=Regering betaalt begrafenis Doedel|website=Amigoe|date=14 January 1980|access-date=21 December 2021|language=nl}}
Aftermath
In 1998, Emile Wijntuin, former chairperson of parliament, wrote Louis Doedel, martelaar voor het Surinaamse volk (Louis Doedel, martyr for the Surinamese people),{{cite web|url=http://data.bibliotheken.nl/doc/nbt/p173985610 |title=Louis Doedel, martelaar voor het Surinaamse volk|website=Royal Dutch Library|access-date=20 December 2021|language=nl}} a biography about Doedel. Wijntuin also founded Comité Eerherstel Louis Doedel which aims to rehabilitate his name.
In 1999, {{ill|Frank Zichem|nl}} created a documentary about Nina Jurna, his niece, trying to piece together the story of her great-uncle.{{cite web|url=https://www.idfa.nl/en/film/8d287566-bcbb-486b-bc26-812f740bf87e/louis-doedel |title=Louis Doedel|website=International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam|access-date=20 December 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/354193224 |title=Louis Doedel, documentaire 1999 |author=Frank Zichem|website=Vimeo|date=16 August 2019 |access-date=21 December 2021|language=nl, srn}}
On 10 January 2010, a bust was revealed in his honour on the terrain of SIVIS.
On 18 February 2021, the medical files of Doedel were released to his family.
See also
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Doedel, Louis}}
Category:People from Paramaribo
Category:Political abuses of psychiatry