We Want Bonaire Back!

Nos ke Boneiru Bek Punto!

About us

 

WHO ARE BONAIRE HUMAN RIGHTS

Bonaire Human Rights Organization (BHRO) represent 66% of our local population who voted the end of 2015 Self- Determination Referendum rejecting the 10-10-10 illegal Integration of Bonaire into the Netherlands Constitution.  BHRO Pledge to defend the people of Bonaire in order to uphold all human rights of Bonaire people, Focus attention on those who are at risk and vulnerable on multiple fronts;

Pay equal attention to the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights, including the right to development and to achieve the right to self-determination, full self-government and political equality

WHAT IS OUR MISSION

Human Right are rights we have simply because we exist as human beings – they are not granted by any state. These universal rights are inherent to us regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language or any other status. They range from the most fundamental- the right to life-to those that make life worth living- such as rights to food education work health and liberty.

We envision Bonaire free of Nederland re-imposed colonial rule on 10.10.10 so our native people can be protected by international treaties and laws In order to stop the ongoing eradication of our peoples and so we do not become more of a minority and be an extinct population in the next 30 years given our present situation. We, the native of Bonaire and our future generations have the right to be emancipated to govern ourselves and determined our own future.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO FINISH OUR MISSION

Emancipation of a nation is never finished because it is a process of Self Determination and Decolonization until our Island can be structurally in a system where we are protected according to the united nation treaties and be listed on the United Nations Non-Self Governing Territories we are on the road of our trajectory this will give our future generation a chance to protect their Culture and Identity and decide on there and the future of their generation.

BHRO will work through advocacy impartially to promote and protect the rights of vulnerable and marginalized members of society by ensuring that the rights are defended through activism, public awareness and education towards establishment of human right conscious society.

 
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“Bonerians were annexed and embedded in 2017 against their will into the Dutch Constitution without equal rights.”

— James Finies, Human Rights Activist

Milestones

 

  • 2004 – Rincon public debate and Jeugdhuis Townhall meeting object to President and  Referendum  committee

    • First interview with James Finies on BonFm

  • 2011 – JF gave objection Letter on greet and meet pier to 1st Chamber Chairman of Dutch parliament

  • Objection letter to the Queen of Holland


  • 2012 Our foundation started a signature campaign for a referendum, collected over 3500 signatures demanding a referendum for Bonaire. “The constitutional structure in which Bonaire is now located is not what the people have chosen. The people have not made a conscious choice about their future status. The choice they made was for direct links is different from the choice for integration."


  • 2012 and 2017 and 2021 James Finies &  NKBB Objected to Dutch Elections and organized anti-2nd chamber elections campaign on Bonaire. Created own public voting poll where the Bonerian citizens did cast PROTEST-votes with their Dutch voters-cards. Due to these campaigns over 70 % of the people for the last 10 years did not participate in this illegal annexation.


  •   2013 personal private meeting with King Willem Alexander and Minister Plasterk discussion about our situation and requesting support for referendum and change of status.

  • Picture #1

  • 2014 NKBB receives written confirmation from Netherlands Minister Plasterk of respecting our self-determination rights and right to hold a referendum.

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  • 11- 2014  James Finies march to the government office and give objection letter

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  • 11-2014 James Finies stand for 222 days on a Protested camp-out non-stop/occupy 24/7 protest at the entrance Government building without leaving living and sleeping till the a referendum was given to the people of Bonaire.


  • 05 – 2015 After 222 days of protest an agreement was made by Local Government to Mr. Finies and witness by Governor. 

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  • 2016 – Mr, Finies and NKBB embark on a SOS United Nations donation drive to go United Nations Headquarters in order to exposed Dutch undemocratic and illegal actions.   

  • Pictures # 8, 9 & 10

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  • 2016 – Mr Finies was the first ever Anilitian which publicly spoke at the C24 united nations special committee of decolonization. 

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  • Eustatius Government join NKBB one week after where they meet with several country missions of the Special Committee of United Nations in New York.

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  • 2016 – 2017 audience with 2 vice-chair and the chair of the C24 committees, invited by the chair and participated in Cultural activities. Pictures #14,15 & 16


  • Official complaint to Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon with regards to Holland contending for a seat in the Security Council.

  • Letter # 17


  • 2017 Co-coordinators of a conference in Sint Maarten of COPPPAL “Unifying in Solidarity to eradicate colonialism in the American continent” .

  • Pictures # 18,19 & 20


  •   2nd visit to the UN headquarters NY: presentation of NKBB Green Paper to all Decolonization Committee of the United Nations Members and request to adopt a resolution to support.

  • Videos & photos 21, 22 & 23.


  • The Bonaire Green paper and the Sint Eustatius White paper were officially disseminated to all Caricom Member Countries.

  • Pictures #24,25 &26.

  • 2012- 2020 NKBB went further and met with several Human Rights Organizations and Amnesty International in the Bahamas.

  • Pictures 27,28

  • NKBB went to Grenada in 2018 to the UN C24 seminar and met with UN Special Rapporteur on Decolonization.

  • Pictures 28,29

  • 2018 NKBB joined with Grenada Human Rights Organization and cooperates to realize Bonaire Human Rights Organization.

  • Picture By the Cannon in Grenada pictures 30,31

  • 2018 Historical meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Grenada.

  • Photos 32

  • 2018 In Barbados met with Leaders – presently in government with Mrs Mia Motley as Prime Minister

  • Photos 33,34,35

  • 2018 – 2020  Met with Human Rights Organizations and Caribbean Peace Movement Leaders and NKBB was invited and represent the Dutch Caribbean islands in the Caribbean people’s movement for integration and reparations trajectory.

  • 35, 36 & 37 Pictures

  • 2016 – 2020 NKBB organize an international  Conference  “The Political Future of the Dutch Administrated Caribbean”– Speakers; Dr Carlyle Cobin –"Global Expert on Decolonisation",  President of COPPPAL, Rudy Croes - Vice President of COPPPAL, Mr Koota - MAN Party of Curacao, speakers from Statia, SXM, San Andres and Puerto Rico.

  • 2019 – Commissioning of "Global Dependency Studies Project" to do Bonaire’s Assessment. 

  • Link

  • 2020 -Received the Completed “Assessment of self-governance sufficiency in conformity with internationally-recognized standards: Country Bonaire” 

  • Photo of launch

  • 2020 – NKBB establish an Executive Committee: NUKEB – In order to Object to the Illegal Constitution of Bonaire after the dismantling of the Nederlands Antilles 10th Oct, 2010. The Objective of this group is to Relist Bonaire On the non-self-Governing territories List of the Untied Nations. This Special Commission is consisting out of three political parties of Bonaire : FSP, UUPP, URB and Bonaire Human Rights Organization, Citizens’ representative and NKBB.

  • James Finies &  NKBB Objected to Dutch Elections and organized anti-2nd chamber elections campaign on Bonaire.

  • Pictures

Open letter to Caricom Heads of States and Leadership

CARICOM Secretariat

Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown

Guyana

 

June 13, 2022

 

Subject: Democracy - White House Briefing on the Ninth Summit of the Americas Meeting with Leaders of The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic

 

 

Honorable Caricom leaders,

 

We took note of the above mentioned important White House Briefing of June 10, 2022 statement on challenges stemming from Covid 19, natural disasters due to climate change and with closing statement ...”that the United States and CARICOM reaffirm our commitment to promoting and defending democracy and the rule of law, as enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter”

 

With this letter directed to the Caricom Leaders and the American President Mr. Biden and Vice-President Mrs. Harris we would like to add that Bonaire as a small Caribbean island, we were the victim of forced illegal annexation and elimination of our democracy and reversed to an era of non-democracy when the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved on October 10, 2010.

 

One major critical issue at this summit was the theme of “democracy” where Cuba and Venezuela (which Bonaire is 50miles of the coast of Venezuela) democracy were the center point of this discussion. We would like to add our situation which was imposed in a state of non-democracy -where our people are being ruled in a status against their wishes which they democratically and legally rejected after the annexation on October 10, 2010, and were embedded under unequal rights in the Dutch Constitution in October 2017.

 

We urge the Caricom to discuss our island Bonaire as a individual case as it is of high urgency as it led to many violations of self-determination, democratic and human rights, eradication of the Bonaire natives, declared by the United Nations and International Community as crime against humanity:

 

Open borders for European Dutch that doubled the population in a decade, reducing the native Bonerians to less than 40%, minority on their own island.

 

Reversing education policies and laws, denying our children human rights to education in own native language, Papiamento.

 

Replacing changing our demography, lifting all small-market protections to open market, open pricing, wiping out all our local businesses replacing them with Dutch Europeans and others

 

Demoting and replacing all our local head of departments with Dutch immigrants taking over all local institutions and leadership positions

 

Rising and imposing taxes at level of Holland in Europe while our income is less than half of the income in Holland, Europe – land and property taxes increased by over 800% destitute locals from they inherited lands and food resources

 

Creating and maintaining social inequality, pushing over 60% of the population under half of the poverty line

 

We Bonerians, who are on an inevitable path to disappear as Caribbean people, we have no choice left but to reach out for support and solidarity to you as Caricom leaders at this critical moment in our history as the summit raised to global attention especially on the theme of democracy. This is very special as “our nations are bounded together by shared values, culture, history, and family ties” as you reaffirmed your commitment to promoting and defending democracy and the rule of law. Also, that you will work in partnership with civil society and the private sector to ensure that democracy delivers for all our people and to build safe, inclusive, prosperous, equitable, and climate resilient societies.

 

To substantiate all above mentioned violations and denial of our self-determination, democratic, social, political, cultural human rights we commissioned and finalized recently an independent United Nations recognized report: “Assessment of self-governance sufficiency in conformity with internationally-recognized standards: Country Bonaire” and video-report  that we would like to disseminate to yours Caricom leaders.

 

Thank you for taking time to read our note—We know it is a lot of information, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

 

Your Sincerely,

 

James Finies – President Nos Ke Boneiru Bek

Davika Bissessar – President Bonaire Human Rights

James Finies President We Want Bonaire Back and Davika Bissessar President Bonaire Human Rights Organization

James Finies President We Want Bonaire Back and Davika Bissessar President Bonaire Human Rights Organization

James Finies President We Want Bonaire Back and Dr Carlyle Corbin author of Self Governance Assessment Country Bonaire- UN Expert

James Finies President We Want Bonaire Back and Dr Carlyle Corbin author of Self Governance Assessment Country Bonaire- UN Expert

2018 Bonaire Human Rights and We Want Bonaire Back headed delegation with deposed government of St Eustatius to Caricom Headquarters Guyana to discuss Dutch atrocities

2018 Bonaire Human Rights and We Want Bonaire Back headed delegation with deposed government of St Eustatius to Caricom Headquarters Guyana to discuss Dutch atrocities

22nd June Director, 2022.

Director CRU dr Victor Alexis:

Welcome Mr. James Finies and Davika Bissessar to our country Republic of Panama, and receive a fraternal hug from the province of Colon and especially from the university family of the Centro Regional Universitaria…..

this place was also under the occupation of a foreign government, I was born here and could not travel to this territory,..we experienced and lived in apartheid here in our own country... as product of a trans-generational struggle today we can enjoy that it is part of us....

James Finies President NKBB:

I am in front of you today my friends from Panama to denounce the Apartheid that we live in Bonaire I thank all friends present here today for your support to stop apartheid in Bonaire and all violations of freedom and human rights that we are living every new day as Bonaire from the Dutch

The Dutch Kingdom pretends that it respects the human rights of its citizens but in the Caribbean, especially in Bonaire they have robbed us of our language, our culture, our land. Every day they steal the dreams of our people. The only thing we want is to live in freedom and peace

Suriname 4th July, 2022

JAMES FINIES MEETS WITH UN SECRETARY GENERAL, ANTONIO GUTERRES.

James Fines, president of Nos Ke Boneiru Bek, and Davika Bissessar, president of Bonaire Human Rights Organization, held an important private meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization (UN), Antonio Guterres, where they explained the apartheid situation that Bonaire is experiencing, where the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland), has violated the territorial status of Bonaire. Violating the human rights of the people, destroying their culture, identity, language, seizing their natural resources, degrading a great nation like Bonaire to a public entity, in clear violation of international law, while promoting new forms of recolonization, by sending Dutch people who acquire citizen rights and voting rights after three months of inhabiting the country

Mr. Finies informed the Secretary General of the United Nations that today in Bonaire, the Kingdom of the Netherlands not only controls the land, the wealth and the government, but also a discriminatory social structure prevails, typical of that Dutch colonialism that so much damage caused humanity in the 16th to 19th centuries. "The local population of Bonaire has been reduced to less 40 percent. In a few more decades we will have disappeared as Bonerians a result of the recolonization policies implemented by the Kingdom," Finies warned.

Within the framework of the 43rd Meeting of CARICOM Heads of State and Government, held in Paramaribo, James Finies denounced the policy of harassment carried out against him by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which he blamed for any attempt on his life. "My fight for the rights of the people of Bonaire is peaceful and will always be so," Finies reiterated.

A question that was raised many times by the leaders at the CARICOM meetings to us, what Holland has to gain?.. we informed, 200 nautical sea-miles of Exclusive Economic Zone of the Caribbean Sea to exploit all its natural resources.

James Finies delivered to the Secretary General of the UN, a complete report on the situation that Bonaire is experiencing, as well as the study "Assessment of self-governance sufficiency in conformity with internationally recognized standards: Country Bonaire", prepared by Dr Corbin and the Dependency Studies Project, which establishes and conclude..... that any projection of Bonaire as a model of democratic governance is illusory at best... deficient by all measures of democratic governance. However, whilst colonialism remains illegal, its illegality is often a matter of power, not justice .....

Mr. Finies thanked Guterres for the space provided and acknowledged the interest in the Bonaire Case and the political will shown by the Secretary General of the United Nations, a man committed to peace and international law.

We supply evidence on our facts in our resources from books, academic articles, thesis, official papers, literature, newspapers, news sites, official documents, letters and many more. Feel free to browse and use our Resources.

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Bonaire Self Determination Denied

 
 

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Contact us

nkbb.bek@gmail.com


OFFICE (+599) 717 2018

FINIES (+599) 782 5664

BISSESSAR (+599) 786 4576

KAYA LIBERTADOR SIMON BOLIVAR 26,

KRALENDIJK, BONAIRE