PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The government of South Korea is building a war monument in Suriname in recognition of Surinamese war veterans who fought during the Korean War from 1950-1953. According to Korea's ambassador to Suriname Soong-Chul Shin the monument will also stand symbol for the good and friendly bilateral relations between his country and Suriname.
At the ground-breaking ceremony war-veteran Wilfred van Gom noted that the monument is a recognition and appreciation of the fallen Surinamese soldiers during the Korean War and those who survived. Ambassador Soong-Chul Shin thanked the surviving veterans, all well over 70 years, for helping liberate his country. According to the diplomat Koreans had to struggle after the war to develop the nation and without the much appreciated help of the Surinamese soldiers and others the economic welfare achieved today wouldn't be possible.
"Indeed my government cherishes deep gratitude to the young Surinamese volunteers who defended our freedom and sovereignty with their lives", the ambassador noted. "The monument is merely a symbol, but of greater importance and value are the courage and sacrifices of the service men during the Korean War", said the diplomat.
Known as Dutch Guyana until it gained independence in 1975, Suriname deployed 115 soldiers to the United Nations Command to Korea as part of a 3.972-strong Dutch contingent. Two died on the battlefield while twenty others were injured. The fallen veterans are buried at the UN Cemetery in Korea's southeastern port city of Busan.
Suriname's Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Jane Aarland-Nanhoe, noticed that the statue will also stand as symbol of Suriname's determination to collaborate with other when democracy and freedom are being targeted. She further noticed that several stakeholders but especially the war veterans championed the establishment of the monument.
In a press release the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that it will provide 120 million won (about US$. 127,000) to a Korean residents' association in Suriname to help build the monument in honor of two Surinamese soldiers who died in the 1950-53 Korean War.
The monument, a 4.7-meter bronze statue of three soldiers with a plaque bearing the names of all 115 Surinamese veterans of the war, is to be completed in June near Suriname's National Assembly in the capital city of Paramaribo, the ministry said in the statement. "We hope the erection of the monument honoring the Surinamese veterans of the Korean War will help raise the status of our citizens in Suriname and help further improve the friendly relationship between the two nations", the statement said.
