Pokigron
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Pokigron
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|image_skyline = Atjoni harbor Suriname.jpg
|imagesize = 300px
|image_caption = The village from the Upper Suriname River
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|pushpin_map = Suriname
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_map_caption =Location in Suriname
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = 25px Suriname
|subdivision_type1 = District
|subdivision_name1 = Sipaliwini
|subdivision_type2 = Resort (municipality)
|subdivision_name2 = Boven Suriname
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|population_total = ~400
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|coordinates = {{coord|4.491111|-55.365|display=inline,title}}
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|elevation_m = 75
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Pokigron is a town in Suriname located on the Upper Suriname River near the Brokopondo Reservoir. It is located in the Boven Suriname municipality (resort) in the Sipaliwini District. It has a population of approximately 400 people in 2018. Pokigron is located at the end of a paved road via Brownsweg to the Avobakaweg.{{cite news|url=http://www.indianfeelings.nl/suriname-ontvangt-geld-van-china-om-financiering-project/|title=Suriname ontvangt geld van China om financiering project|website=Indian Feelings|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}} Pokigron is often referred to as Atjoni which is the nearby quay, and literally the end of the road. Villages to the South of Pokigron have to be accessed by boat.{{cite web|url=https://vivesonderwijsinsuriname.weebly.com/blog/welcome-to-the-jungle|title=Welcome to the Jungle|access-date=20 May 2020|language=nl|website=Vives Onderwijs in Suriname}} The village is home to Maroons of the Saramaka tribe.{{cite web|url=https://www.planningofficesuriname.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/STRUCTUUR-ANALYSE-IV.pdf|title=Planning Office Suriname - Districts|website=Planning Office Suriname|language=nl|access-date=13 February 2021|page=189}}
Nearby towns and villages include Wittiehede Ston (19.6 nm), Mofina (15.6 nm), Wittikamba (1.4 nm), Malrosee-Kondre (5.1 nm) and Abenaston (3.0 nm).{{cite web|url=http://www.maplandia.com/suriname/sipaliwini/boven-suriname/pokigron/|title=Pokigron|website=Map Landia|access-date=19 May 2020}}
History
Pokigron was, up to 1986, a village with a population of 700, and reasonably prosperous as the main transport hub to the south of the country. Many of the typical huts with thatched roofs had been replaced by houses, and the village even had street lights. This changed on 23 April 1987.{{cite news|url=https://www.digibron.nl/viewer/collectie/Digibron/id/41a8a3df99beb854ae5f4a4b45e55375|title=De ondergang van een Surinaams bosnegerdorp|date=2 January 1991|website=Terdege via Digibron|access-date=20 May 2020|language=nl}} The Surinamese Interior War which had started far away in Albina and Moengotapoe the previous year, had come to Sipaliwini.{{cite news|url=https://www.digibron.nl/viewer/collectie/Digibron/id/02408c77d71f20c8befc27ebdb7cf197|title=Leger Suriname zoekt gijzelaars |website=Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron|date=26 July 1986|access-date=19 May 2020}} The Jungle Commando headed by Ronnie Brunswijk ordered the villagers into the jungle, robbed them of their possessions, and burned their houses. On 11 September 1987, the National Army led by Dési Bouterse retaliated by attacking the Jungle Commando, and according to a report by Aide Médicale Internationale, killed civilians including women and children. Both parties have denied that any civilians had been killed.{{cite news|url=https://www.digibron.nl/viewer/collectie/Digibron/id/f88735928e3cf931f025befde3a7958f|title=Franse artsen melden nieuw bloedbad in dorp Suriname|website=Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron|date=29 September 1987|access-date=20 May 2020|language=nl}} On 27 September 1989, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights looked into the matter, declared that this constituted a very serious violation of the Right to Life, recommended that the Government of Suriname investigate the matter, and that the relatives of the victims are entitled to fair compensation. The IACHR identified 15 cases of deaths, four disappearances and one was unclear. Six of the cases were children, and three were women of which one was raped before she was killed.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcourts.com/iacmhr/eng/decisions/1989.09.27_Tjongalangapassie_victims_v_Suriname.pdf|title=Tjongalangapassie victims v. Surin., Case 10.124, Inter-Am. C.H.R., Report No. 22/89, OEA/Ser.L/V/II.76, doc. 10 (1988-1989)|date=27 September 1989|website=World Courts}} In October 1993, the IACHR sentenced the Government of Suriname to pay $400,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=400000|start_year=1993}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in damages to the victims.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?coll=ddd&identifier=ABCDDD:010826199:mpeg21:a0786|title='BOUTERSE HOORT IN THE BAK'|website=Trouw via Delpher|access-date=20 May 2020|date=24 September 1994|language=nl}}
A group of civilians from Pokigron following the incidents squatted in a terrain near Paramaribo, and have named their camp Sunny Point.{{cite web|url=https://kansrijksuriname.org/jeugdkoor-in-sunny-point/|title=Wat wij doen in Sunny Point|access-date=20 May 2020|website=Kansrijk Suriname|language=nl}} It is located in Koewarasan, Wanica.{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/52887|title=Nikos-peiling: Onveiligheidsgevoel in Wanica toegenomen|website=Star Nieuws|access-date=20 May 2020|language=nl}}
As of 3 February 2018, the village of Pokigron now has 24 hours of electricity, because the Diesel generators could only provide for 5 to 6 hours.{{cite web|url=https://www.deboodschap.today/pokigron-1x24-uur-stroom/|title=Pokigron 1×24 uur stroom|website=De Boodschap.today|access-date=20 May 2020|language=nl|archive-date=10 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710103141/http://www.deboodschap.today/pokigron-1x24-uur-stroom/|url-status=dead}}
Healthcare
Pokigron is home to a Medische Zending healthcare centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.medischezending.sr/mz/zorggebied/|title=Zorggebied|website=Medische Zending.sr|access-date=19 May 2020|language=nl|archive-date=30 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930070719/http://www.medischezending.sr/mz/zorggebied/|url-status=dead}}
References
External links
{{Commons category|Pokigron|position=left}}
{{Surinamese District Sipaliwini}}