Jozef Weidmann

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Leonardus Josephus "Jozef" Weidmann (3 October 1899 – 15 September 1962) was a Dutch-Surinamese Catholic priest, politician and union leader. He is one of the founders of the Progressive Surinamese People's Party (PSV). Weidmann played a leading role in establishing universal suffrage in Suriname,[1][2] and was the founder of Progressive Workers Organisation, the oldest recognised trade union in Suriname.[3]

Biography

Weidmann was born on 3 October 1899 in Kerkrade, Netherlands. In 1925, he was ordained priest of the Catholic Church.[4] In 1928, he was sent to Suriname as a missionary, and worked in the interior among the Maroons and Amerindians. Later, he became a priest in Paramaribo. On 7 December 1942, Wilhelmina of the Netherlands made a radio speech promising autonomy for the colonies. Weidmann decided to become politically active, and asked the Vatican permission to relieve him, and venture into politics.[1]

In August 1946, Weidmann was one of the founders of the Progressive Surinamese People's Party (PSV), a Christian democratic party.[5] He started to emphasise universal suffrage, because he was of the opinion that democracy was not possible without universal suffrage first.[1] On 16 February 1948, Weidmann founded the Progressive Workers Organisation (PWO), the oldest recognised trade union in Suriname, and served as its chairperson.[3] On 7 March 1948, he organised a demonstration for universal suffrage which was attended by more than 20,000 people.[2]

On 28 January 1948,[6] Johann de Miranda, a member of the PSV, attended the First Round Table Conference in The Hague on behalf of Suriname,[7] In July 1948, the States General of the Netherlands voted to extend universal suffrage to Suriname.[6] On 30 May 1949, the first general election was held, however the PSV failed to gain any seats.[8]

Weidmann died on 15 September 1962 at the age of 62.[4]

Legacy

After his death, the Father Weidmann Foundation, was established.[4] The foundation was chaired by Emile Wijntuin and operates a home for stray children.[9] On 1 April 1975,[10] Weidmann was honoured with a statue created by Jozef Klas.[2] The statue is located near the offices of the PWO,[11] and a street in Rainville was named after Father Weidmann.[12] In 1996, Wijntuin published Weidmann, grondlegger van het algemeen kiesrecht in Suriname, a biography about Weidmann and the struggle for universal suffrage.[13]

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3]"Een droom die werkelijkheid werd". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. 2.[2.2][2.3]Erik Kasteleijn. "Pater Weidmann, 'vriend van de Surinaamse arbeider'". Werkgroep Cararibische Letteren (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  3. 3.[3.2]"PWO houdt verkiezingen". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  4. 4.[4.2][4.3]"1899-1962 Pater Leonardus Josephus Weidmann" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  5. 5."Het leven van Emile Wijntuin in een notendop. Door dr. Hans Breeveld". Omhoog (in Dutch). 18 October 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. 6.[6.2]"Wat gebeurde er in dit jaar in de maand Januari". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  7. 7."Een van de deelnemers aan de RTC: de heer J.A. de Miranda, Particam, 1948". Rijksmuseum (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  8. 8."Bang voor de krokodil". De Groene Amsterdammer (in Dutch). 8 March 2000. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  9. 9."Eerste parlementsvoorzitter onafhankelijk Suriname overleden". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  10. 10."Suriname, bijeenkomsten". Dutch National Archive (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  11. 11."Monumenten 4". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  12. 12.Ankie van de Kruijs (1998). "De PSV, een deftige partij in de Surinaamse politiek". OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis (in Dutch). p. 236. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  13. 13."Weidmann, grondlegger van het algemeen kiesrecht in Suriname / E. Wijntuin". Dutch National Library (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.