Louis Doedel

Louis Alfred Gerardus Doedel (26 July 1905 – 10 January 1980) was a Surinamese trade unionist. On 29 May 1937, he was involuntarily committed at the psychiatric hospital by Governor Johannes Kielstra. Doedel was forgotten by the public and often presumed dead. He was not released until late 1979, and died shortly after release.

Biography Louis Doedel was born on 26 July 1905 in Paramaribo as an illegitimate child. In 1928, he went to Curaçao hoping to get a job at the Shell oil refinery. He found a job at the taxation office, however, his revolutionary ideas drew the attention of the police. On 28 February 1931, he was deported back to Suriname. In 1932, he founded , a trade union, which was officially recognized. On 28 May 1937, he demanded to speak with Governor Kielstra, who refused to see him. The next day, Doedel returned covered in white clay, because white people were allowed in, and dropped his pants. During his stay at Wolfenbüttel, he received electroconvulsive therapy. After 43 years of commitment, he was finally released in late 1979. At his release, he was no longer able to walk or talk. Doedel died several days later on 10 January 1980, at the age of 74. The government paid for his burial.

Aftermath In 1998, Emile Wijntuin, former chairperson of parliament, wrote Louis Doedel, martelaar voor het Surinaamse volk (Louis Doedel, martyr for the Surinamese people), a biography about Doedel. Wijntuin also founded Comité Eerherstel Louis Doedel which aims to rehabilitate his name.

On 10 January 2010, a bust was revealed in his honour on the terrain of SIVIS.

On 18 February 2021, the medical files of Doedel were released to his family.