{{Short description|President of Suriname from 1980 to 1982}} {{Family name hatnote|Chin A Sen|lang=Dutch}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Henk Chin A Sen | native_name = {{Nobold|陳亞先}} | image = H.Chin A Sen.jpg | image_size = | order = 2nd | office = President of Suriname | term_start = 15 August 1980 | term_end = 4 February 1982 | prime_minister = ''Himself'' | predecessor = Johan Ferrier | successor = Fred Ramdat Misier | order2 = 2nd | office2 = Prime Minister of Suriname | term_start2 = 15 March 1980 | term_end2 = 4 February 1982 | president2 = Johan Ferrier <br> ''Himself'' | predecessor2 = Henck Arron | successor2 = Henry Neijhorst | birth_date = {{birth date|1934|01|18|df=y}} | birth_place = Albina, Surinam | death_date = {{Death date and age|1999|08|11|1934|01|18|df=y}} | death_place = Paramaribo, Suriname | birth_name = Hendrik Rudolf Chin A Sen | party = Nationalist Republican Party | spouse = Sherlyne Chin A Sen | alma_mater = | occupation = Politician, physician | signature = | website = | module = {{Infobox Chinese | child = yes | t={{linktext|陳|亞|先}} | s={{linktext|陈|亚|先}} | p=Chén Yàxiān | gr=Chern Yah Shian | bpmf=ㄔㄣˊ ㄧㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢ}} }}
'''Hendrik Rudolf''' "'''Henk'''" '''Chin A Sen''' ({{lang-zh|t=陳亞先}}; pinyin: ''Chén Yàxiān''; 18 January 1934 – 11 August 1999) was a Surinamese politician who served as the President of Suriname from 15 August 1980 until 4 February 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1218515.stm|title=Timeline: Suriname|publisher=BBC News|access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref>
== Biography == Chin A Sen was born in the town of Albina, on 18 January 1934. He studied medicine at the Geneeskundige School of Paramaribo and graduated in 1959.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.suriname.nu/303ges/januari23.html |title=Wat gebeurde er in dit jaar in de maand Januari |website=Suriname.nu|access-date=24 December 2021|language=nl}}</ref> From 1959-1961, he began a general practice, then went to the Netherlands to specialize as an internist. When he returned to Suriname, he worked in the Sint Vincentius Hospital in Paramaribo. Then he joined the ''Nationalist Republican Party'' (PNR), a party which pursued the independence of Suriname, although he was not very active.
On 15 March 1980, after the Sergeants Coup, which brought Dési Bouterse and his military council to power, Chin A Sen was installed as Prime Minister of Suriname.<ref name="aftreden">{{cite news|url=https://www.digibron.nl/viewer/collectie/Digibron/offset/8/zoekwoord/Chin+A+Sen/id/c0087201859ec9d8360edad52a52e827|title=Chin A Sen onder druk afgetreden |website=Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron|date=5 February 1982|language=nl|access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref> The appointment of the non-politically active Chin A Sen came as a surprise. Chin A Sen formed a leftist cabinet which included two members of the National Military Council (NMR) and also for time females. Siegmien Power-Staphorst and Nel Stadwijk-Kappel were appointed under minister and Power-Staphorst soon after became a minister. On 15 August 1980, after President Johan Ferrier resigned, Chin A Sen assumed the post of President as well.
On 4 February 1982, Chin A Sen was fired by Bouterse after a disagreement.<ref name="aftreden"/> He exiled himself first to Pittsburgh in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dbnl.nl/tekst/oltm003will01_01/oltm003will01_01_0011.php?q=chin%20a%20sen#hl1|title=Willem Oltmans in gesprek met Desi Bouterse|website=Digital Library for Dutch Literature|date=1984|author=Willem Oltmans|author-link=Willem Oltmans|access-date=23 June 2020|language=nl}}</ref> and then to the Netherlands where he arrived on 27 December 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digibron.nl/viewer/collectie/Digibron/offset/4/zoekwoord/Chin+A+Sen/id/460306a926e0253d1cf33518af553dc1|title=Mogelijk regering in ballingschap|website=Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron|date=28 December 1982|language=nl|access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref> In the Netherlands, after the December murders of 1982, Chin A Sen was chosen as Chairman of the Council for the Liberation of Suriname. The Council opposed the reign of Bouterse and his supporters, but it was not very successful. Chin A Sen was later in connection with Ronnie Brunswijk and his Jungle Commando, who waged an armed struggle against Bouterse.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nickerie.net/News2015/2015-02-05%20-%20De%20geschiedvervalsing%20over%20de%20PL%E2%80%A6.%20en%20nu%20de%20waarheid.htm|title=De geschiedvervalsing over de PL…. en nu de waarheid|website=GFC Nieuws via Nickerie.net|date=7 February 2015|access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref>
On 7 March 1985, five musicians practising in an office building in Rijswijk were attacked by armed men. Three musicians were killed. The offices of Chin A Sen and the Council for the Liberation were located on the same floor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digibron.nl/viewer/collectie/Digibron/offset/9/zoekwoord/Chin+A+Sen/id/ebe9e94437dd7f2a8542a711ae174930|title=Reeks aanslagen bleef onopgehelderd |website=Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron|date=13 July 1985|language=nl|access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref> The hit was probably directed against Chin A Sen.<ref>{{cite news|url =http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1985/08/13/020.html|title=Intento de atentado|accessdate =7 January 2010|author = Agencias|date = 13 August 1985}}</ref> He was, however, not present at that moment. The investigation was reopened in 1997, but no prosecution was made.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/ex-legerleider-zou-ook-betrokken-zijn-bij-drievoudige-executie-in-rijswijk~b9000bc1/|title=Ex-legerleider zou ook betrokken zijn bij drievoudige executie in Rijswijk|website=Trouw|access-date=23 June 2020|date=11 October 1997|language=nl}}</ref>
In 1995, Chin A Sen returned to Paramaribo, where he resumed his work as an internist. He died at the age of 65 in Paramaribo.<ref>{{cite news|url =http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/5009/Archief/archief/article/detail/2599433/1999/08/12/Arts-premier-kon-Bouterse-niet-aan.dhtml|title=Arts Premier kon Bouterse niet aan|work=Trouw}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Henck Arron}} {{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Suriname|years=1980–1982}} {{s-aft|after=Henry Roëll Neijhorst}} {{s-bef|before=Johan Ferrier}} {{s-ttl|title=President of Suriname|years=1980–1982}} {{s-aft|after=Fred Ramdat Misier}} {{s-end}}
{{Presidents of Suriname}} {{Prime Ministers of Suriname}} {{Foreign Ministers of Suriname}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chin A Sen, Henk}} Category:1934 births Category:1999 deaths Category:Presidents of Suriname Category:Prime ministers of Suriname Category:Finance ministers of Suriname Category:People from Marowijne District Category:Surinamese people of Chinese descent Category:Surinamese politicians of Chinese descent Category:20th-century Surinamese politicians Category:Surinamese medical doctors Category:Hakka health professionals Category:Surinamese exiles Category:Nationalist Republican Party (Suriname) politicians Category:20th-century medical doctors