Hendrick Rudolf (Henk) Chin A Sen (January 18, 1934 – August 11, 1999) was a Surinamese politician who served as the President of Suriname from 15 August 1980 until 4 February 1982.

Early life and education

Chin A Sen was born in the town of Albina, on January 18, 1934. He studied medicine at the medical school of Paramaribo and graduated in 1959. 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 San 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.

Career

On 15 March 1980, after the Sergeants Coup, which Desi Bouterse and his military council had brought to power, Chin A Sen became Prime Minister of Suriname. The appointment of the non-politically active Chin A Sen came as a surprise. Chin A Sen formed a cabinet which also concluded two members of the National Military Council (NMR). Soon after his swearing in it was clear he wanted the return to democracy and the curtailment of the power of NMR.

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 against 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.

An attack in Rijswijk in 1985 in which 3 people died during a meeting of the Council for the Liberation, was probably directed against Chin A Sen. He was, however, not present at that moment.

In 1995, Chin A Sen returned to Paramaribo, where he resumed his work as an internist.

Death

He died on 11 August 1999 at the age of 65 in Paramaribo. He was married to Sherlyne Chin A Sen.