BAKU, Azerbaijan — In a significant stride towards international recognition and support, the Bonaire Human Rights Organization (BHRO) escalated its campaign against what it deems the illegal annexation of Bonaire by the Netherlands. At a pivotal conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, from July 17-18, 2024, BHRO leaders James Finies and Davika Bissessar joined forces with global advocates to discuss colonialism and self-determination.
This event is a precursor to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), slated to be held in Baku in November 2024, promising a high-profile platform for BHRO’s cause.
The Baku Initiative Group (BIG), founded on July 6, 2023, during the Non-Aligned Movement’s ministerial meeting, orchestrated the conference. BIG promotes international cooperation against colonialism and provided a forum for Bonaire to align with 15 organizations from French territories such as French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Martinique. Together, they formed the International Liberation Front, a coalition dedicated to decolonization.
Abbas Abbasov, the Executive Director of BIG, has committed support to Bonaire’s fight against Dutch control, following a significant decolonization conference hosted by BIG at the UN Headquarters in New York on June 20. Despite attempts by the Dutch government to halt Bonaire’s participation, the event proceeded, drawing substantial international attention.
Addressing the Baku conference in French for the first time, James Finies condemned the Dutch government’s violations of the UN Charter and international covenants. He painted a stark picture of the humanitarian crisis in Bonaire, where the indigenous population has plummeted to 32% since the 2010 status change, threatening their cultural survival.
Davika Bissessar articulated Bonaire’s primary objective: to restore its status on the UN’s list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. Removed in 1955 without the consent of its people, this status would offer critical protections under UN Article 73, safeguarding Bonaire’s rights and developmental interests.
BHRO remains unwavering in its mission to raise global awareness and secure international support to prevent the cultural and demographic erasure of Bonaire’s people. As the island faces an imminent threat to its identity, the call for solidarity grows louder on the international stage.