# Louis Doedel > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Louis_Doedel > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Louis_Doedel.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Doedel > Source revision: 1353027526 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Louis Alfred Gerardus Doedel** (26 July 1905 – 10 January 1980) was a Surinamese [trade unionist](/source/Trade_unionist). On 29 May 1937, he was [involuntarily committed](/source/Involuntary_commitment) at the [Wolfenbüttel](/source/Wolfenb%C3%BCttel_(institution)) psychiatric hospital by Governor [Johannes Kielstra](/source/Johannes_Kielstra). Doedel was forgotten by the public and often presumed dead. He was not released until late 1979, and died shortly after release.[1] ## Biography Louis Doedel was born on 26 July 1905 in [Paramaribo](/source/Paramaribo) as an illegitimate child. In 1928, he went to [Curaçao](/source/Cura%C3%A7ao) hoping to get a job at the Shell oil refinery.[2] He found a job at the taxation office, however, his revolutionary ideas drew the attention of the police.[3] On 28 February 1931, he was deported back to Suriname.[2] On 25 May 1931, Doedel founded a committee for the unemployed which was later renamed Surinaamse Volksbond.[3] On 28 October 1931, a protest organised by Doedel turned into a two-day riot resulting in one death, two wounded, and 56 arrests.[4] In 1932, he founded [SAWO](/source/SAWO), a trade union, which was officially recognized. On 28 May 1937, he demanded to speak with Governor [Kielstra](/source/Johannes_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.[2] Kielstra used this incident to have Doedel [involuntarily committed](/source/Involuntary_commitment) at the [Wolfenbüttel](/source/Wolfenb%C3%BCttel_(institution)) psychiatric hospital.[2][3] Officially, it was an observation for 28 days.[5] On 18 March 1938, Doedel wrote a letter to Kielstra apologising for the incident, and asked to be allowed to work on a piece of land in [Saramacca](/source/Saramacca_District). His plea was ignored.[6] During his stay at Wolfenbüttel, he received [electroconvulsive therapy](/source/Electroconvulsive_therapy).[1] To the outside world, Doedel was forgotten and often presumed dead.[7] After 43 years of commitment, he was finally released in late 1979. At his release, he was no longer able to walk or talk.[8] Doedel died several days later on 10 January 1980, at the age of 74.[1][5] The government paid for his burial.[9] ## Aftermath In 1998, [Emile Wijntuin](/source/Emile_Wijntuin), former chairperson of parliament, wrote *Louis Doedel, martelaar voor het Surinaamse volk* (Louis Doedel, martyr for the Surinamese people),[10] a biography about Doedel. Wijntuin also founded Comité Eerherstel Louis Doedel which aims to rehabilitate his name.[5] In 1999, [Frank Zichem](/source/Frank_Zichem) created a documentary about Nina Jurna, his niece, trying to piece together the story of her great-uncle.[11][12] On 10 January 2010, a [bust](/source/Bust_(sculpture)) was revealed in his honour on the terrain of SIVIS.[5] On 18 February 2021, the medical files of Doedel were released to his family.[1] ## See also - [Political abuse of psychiatry](/source/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry) ## References 1. ["Medisch dossier Surinaamse activist Doedel opgedoken: hoop op eerherstel"](https://nos.nl/artikel/2369306-medisch-dossier-surinaamse-activist-doedel-opgedoken-hoop-op-eerherstel) (in Dutch). *Nederlandse Omroep Stichting*. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. ["Louis Doedel (1905-1980)"](https://vakbondshistorie.nl/dossiers/louis-doedel-1905-1980/) (in Dutch). *Vakbonds Historie*. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. ["DOEDEL, LOUIS"](https://www.suriname.nu/701vips/belangrijke06.html) (in Dutch). *Suriname.nu*. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. Daniël Tuijnman (2009). ["Politie en leger in Suriname"](https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_oso001200901_01/_oso001200901_01_0025.php) (in Dutch). *OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis*. p. 136. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. ["Borstbeeld, eerste stap naar eerherstel Louis Doedel"](https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/14926) (in Dutch). *Star Nieuws*. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. Patrick Meershoek (13 January 2021). ["Het briefje van Louis Doedel maakte diepe indruk"](https://www.parool.nl/columns-opinie/het-briefje-van-louis-doedel-maakte-diepe-indruk~b2b4af78/) (in Dutch). *Parool*. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. ["Louis Doedel #1: Hoe kon een hele natie geloven dat hij dood was?"](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2021/08/02/louis-doedel-1-hoe-kon-een-hele-natie-geloven-dat-hij-dood-was-a4053313) (in Dutch). *NRC Handelsblad*. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. ["Eerherstel voor Louis Doedel"](https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=0%7C20e_eeuw%7C&identifier=ddd:011187982:mpeg21:a0029&resultsidentifier=ddd:011187982:mpeg21:a0029&rowid=2) (in Dutch). *De Vrije Stem via Delpher.nl*. 20 December 1979. Retrieved 21 December 2021. 1. ["Regering betaalt begrafenis Doedel"](https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Doedel&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C1989%7C&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C1980%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010639706:mpeg21:a0007&resultsidentifier=ddd:010639706:mpeg21:a0007&rowid=3) (in Dutch). *Amigoe*. 14 January 1980. Retrieved 21 December 2021. 1. ["Louis Doedel, martelaar voor het Surinaamse volk"](http://data.bibliotheken.nl/doc/nbt/p173985610) (in Dutch). *Royal Dutch Library*. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. ["Louis Doedel"](https://www.idfa.nl/en/film/8d287566-bcbb-486b-bc26-812f740bf87e/louis-doedel). *International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam*. Retrieved 20 December 2021. 1. Frank Zichem (16 August 2019). ["Louis Doedel, documentaire 1999"](https://vimeo.com/354193224) (in Dutch, srn). *Vimeo*. Retrieved 21 December 2021. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Louis Doedel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Doedel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Doedel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.